The third day of the first Test cricket match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in Galle is today. Bangladesh scored 495 runs in their first innings and then Sri Lanka opened their first innings. Pathum Nissanka and debutant Lahiru Udara opened today (19) by setting a unique record.
Both Pathum and Lahiru Udara are right-handed batsmen, and it is after 29 years that two right-handed batsmen have opened a Sri Lankan innings in a Test match.
The last time two right-handed batsmen opened the innings for Sri Lanka in a Test match was in the match against Australia in Melbourne in 1995. Sri Lanka’s innings was opened by Roshan Mahanama and Chandika Hathurusingha on that day.
Since then, Sri Lanka have faced 260 Test matches, and in all those 260 matches, no two right-handed batsmen have opened the Sri Lankan innings.
Sri Lanka, playing their first innings against the visiting Bangladesh team, were in a strong position at 368 for 4 at stumps on the third day.