Sri Lanka ended the first Test against New Zealand at Galle with a win by 63 runs, thanks to a stellar five-wicket haul by Prabath Jayasuriya. Sri Lanka was able to defend their target of 275 runs, thus making it a strong bowling performance on the final morning of the match.
An Unattainable Chase for New Zealand
On the final day, New Zealand required 275 runs to win. The Sri Lankan bowling attack was not ready to give up on the victory and would try to take down New Zealand on that final day as well. Rachin Ravindra was the knight in shining armor for New Zealand, scoring an excellent 92 runs, which turned out to be the highest score by any New Zealand player at Galle. But the pressure was keen, and the Sri Lankans were sharp enough to breach the wall.
Prabath Jayasuriya was the man of the day who took five wickets for 68 runs in the second innings. He added outstanding skill with a lot of concentration, which made a big difference. Jayasuriya’s performance helped turn the tide for Sri Lanka, as he trapped Ravindra lbw only after play resumed on Monday morning. It did not help New Zealand, but it showed what Jayasuriya can do when it matters the most.
A Record-Breaking Performance
Ravindra’s innings were magnificent, yet he returned without making nearly a century. However, he became the highest scorer of Kiwi on Galle soil, surpassing Ross Taylor’s record. New Zealand batsmen were left with nothing to say about Jayasuriya’s bowling as he took nine wickets in the game, and it was more than obvious that Jayasuriya played a key role for the team.
Although New Zealand lost the match, they did put up some standout performances. Rookie pacer William O’Rourke took eight wickets overall in the match, including a five-wicket haul in Sri Lanka’s first innings. He gave everyone a glimpse of his potentially promising opportunities during other matches, even when his team lost this game.
AJaz Patel was good for New Zealand as well, taking six wickets for 90 runs in Sri Lanka’s second innings. In fact, it was the best bowling figure by a Kiwi bowler in Sri Lanka since Daniel Vettori came to the fore in 1998. Patel was good and worthy of praise, but the game was never going to change hands.
Looking Ahead
It means that they will take forward the momentum of this win in the remaining second and last test of the series, which begins at the very same venue. Therefore, the team would be eager to take forward such a win and gain another one in the match against New Zealand. Fans are eagerly waiting for whether Jayasuriya will keep going with his form and again lead the bowling attack. Now, it is time to see what happens in the second and last of the two Tests.
In a nutshell, it was the fantastic five-wicket haul that Prabath Jayasuriya stole the show for Sri Lanka in their 63-run victory over New Zealand. He not only provided Sri Lanka with a win but also presented a pretty promising bowling unit to Sri Lanka, considering the resources they had on the ground. And with both teams gifting the second Test, anticipation builds up over what might become yet another Galle encounter.
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