Sri Lanka Near Historic Test Series Win Against New Zealand in Galle
Galle, Sri Lanka – The Sri Lankan cricket team is on the verge of making history as they head into day four of the second Test against New Zealand with a 315-run lead and only five Kiwi wickets left to take. This could mark their first series win against New Zealand since 2009.
In the past 15 years, Sri Lanka has lost three series away from home and managed to draw two at home. A victory in this match would be a significant achievement, especially against the 2021 ICC World Test Champions.
Batting Brilliance
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Sri Lanka’s batters put on a spectacular show. Despite an early dismissal of Pathum Nissanka for one run, three players scored centuries: Dinesh Chandimal (116 runs), Kamindu Mendis (182 runs), and Kusal Mendis (106 runs). These efforts led Sri Lanka to declare at 602/5 in their first innings.
Chandimal’s century made him the fourth-highest century-maker for Sri Lanka in Tests, tying with legends like Tilakrathne Dilshan and Marvan Athapattu. Kamindu Mendis reached 1,000 Test runs in just 13 innings, tying with Australian legend Don Bradman. Kusal Mendis became the 10th Sri Lankan player to reach 10,000 runs in international cricket.
Bowling Dominance
In their first innings, New Zealand struggled on a spin-friendly surface, getting bowled out for just 88 runs. Spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took 6/42, while debutant Nishan Peiris picked up 3/33. This gave Sri Lanka a massive 514-run lead, the fifth-highest first-innings lead in Test cricket history.
New Zealand fared slightly better in their second innings, ending day three at 199/5. Devon Conway scored 61 runs, while Kane Williamson and Tom Blundell contributed 46 and 47* runs, respectively.
What’s Next?
As the match progresses, all eyes are on Prabath Jayasuriya and Nishan Peiris to see if they can lead Sri Lanka to a historic Test win and boost their chances of making it to the World Test Championship final.
Doubts Revealed
Sri Lanka -: Sri Lanka is a small island country located in the Indian Ocean, just south of India.
Test series -: A Test series is a set of cricket matches played between two teams, usually consisting of multiple games that can last up to five days each.
New Zealand -: New Zealand is a country located in the southwestern Pacific Ocean, known for its beautiful landscapes and strong cricket team.
Galle -: Galle is a city in Sri Lanka, famous for its historic fort and cricket stadium where international matches are often played.
Kiwi -: Kiwi is a nickname for people from New Zealand, similar to how people from India are called Indians.
Centuries -: In cricket, a century is when a player scores 100 or more runs in a single innings.
Dinesh Chandimal -: Dinesh Chandimal is a famous Sri Lankan cricketer known for his batting skills.
Kamindu Mendis -: Kamindu Mendis is a young Sri Lankan cricketer who is making a name for himself with his all-round abilities.
Kusal Mendis -: Kusal Mendis is another talented Sri Lankan cricketer, known for his aggressive batting style.
Prabath Jayasuriya -: Prabath Jayasuriya is a Sri Lankan cricketer who is known for his excellent bowling.
Nishan Peiris -: Nishan Peiris is a new player in the Sri Lankan cricket team, making his debut in this series.
Innings -: An innings in cricket is a period in which one team takes its turn to bat and try to score runs, while the other team bowls and fields.
2009 -: 2009 is the year when Sri Lanka last won a Test series against New Zealand, which is a long time ago.