Sri Lankan cricket team made a mockery of New Zealand's batting during the 2nd Test match in Galle. The visiting side were bowled out for just 88 in their first innings after Sri Lanka had scored 602 runs in their first innings. Dhananjaya De Silva decided to enforce the follow after his side took a huge lead of 514 runs.
This is the third-highest lead conceded in a timed Test match. The record of 587 lead came during the South Africa vs Sri Lanka game in Colombo in 2006. The next best is the 570-run lead taken by Pakistan against the Kiwis during the 2002 Test in Lahore. The highest lead taken in a Test is 702 during the 1938 Ashes Test in Oval which was a timeless game.
New Zealand went into lunch on the 3rd day having lost their opener Tom Latham for a duck. Pathum Nissanka took a smart catch to give Nishan Peiris his first wicket of the 2nd innings. This means that 9 wickets had fallen in the day with the Kiwis now having to play two more sessions. Tim Southee’s side still trail by 511 runs with 2 days to be played.
Dhananjaya De Silva and Sri Lanka on the cusp of huge win
New Zealand began the third day with overnight batters Kane Williamson on 6 and Ajaz Patel on 0. In the final ball of the 17th over, Williamson was caught by De Silva to give Jayasuriya his 2nd wicket. Asitha Fernando had given Sri Lanka the early wicket at the end of day two when he dismissed Tom Latham for 2.
Nishan Peiris struck twice first castling Rachin Ravindra for 10 and then dismissing Patel for 8. Jayasuriya then completed his fifer when he got the wickets of Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, and Daryl Mitchell in a terrific spell of spin bowling. The sixth wicket for Jayasuriya was that of Kiwi skipper Southee for 2 caught by De Silva.
That catch also meant that Dhananjaya De Silva took his 5th catch as a fielder in a single innings of the Test. Former batter Lahiru Thirimanne is the only other Sri Lankan to achieve the feat against England in 2021. Mitchell Santner with 29 not out was the best batter for New Zealand as Jayasuriya ended with 6/42 from 18 overs.
Here’s how the fans reacted
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