Sri Lanka won the 2nd and final Test against New Zealand on the 4th day of the game. The margin of win was massive as they won the match by an innings and 154 runs. Prabath Jayasuriya ended the game with 9 wickets in the game with 3 scalps in the 2nd innings and 6 in the first. Nishan Peiris was the best bowler in the second innings with 6/170 from his 33.4 overs.
Meanwhile, Jayasuriya bowled a delivery that was similar to former Australian legend Shane Warne. Bowling from over the wicket, Prabath Jayasuriya saw the ball turn in sharply. Ajaz Patel could only watch in dismay as he was bowled for 22 off 40 balls as the Kiwis lost their 9th wicket.
𝑺𝒑𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒕 𝒕𝒐 𝒘𝒊𝒏 𝒊𝒕 💫
— Sony Sports Network (@SonySportsNetwk) September 29, 2024
Huge turn from Prabath Jayasuriya to get rid of Ajaz Patel 😵💫#SonySportsNetwork #SLvNZ pic.twitter.com/15cZrZhwSA
With this win, Sri Lanka have now won the series 2-0 and stay in the race for a place in the WTC finals. This is their 3rd successive Test win after winning the Oval Test against England. New Zealand now will travel to India for the three-match Test series that begins on 16th October.
Sri Lanka wrap easy win on 4th day against New Zealand
New Zealand started the 4th day on 199/5 still trailing the home team by a huge margin. Tom Blundell scored 60 runs from 64 balls as the Kiwi star was aggressive from the word go. His knock contained 6 fours and 2 sixes as he fell to Nishan Peiris to become the 1st wicket of the day.
Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner added 62 runs for the 7th wicket in just 103 balls. That stand was broken when Peiris had Blundell caught by Karunaratne for 78. Tim Southee (10) and Ajaz Patel (22) were both dismissed by Jayasuriya.
Mitchell Santner was the last man to be bowled as he was bowled by Nishan Peiris. The left-arm spinner scored 67 off 115 balls with 6 fours and 3 sixes. Sri Lanka won the game with one session and one day left to play. It comes as a huge blow for the Kiwis with the tour of India set to begin in a few weeks.
Losing skipper Tim Southee said “Very tough, on the wrong side of a tough one. But this is a tough place to come. I think in this match it was a lot harder, but in the first game, we could have pushed on a bit harder. Need to go home, regroup and go again. India is very similar to this part of the world”
Kamindu Mendis was given the player of the match as he said “I'm enjoying scoring runs, especially since Galle is my hometown. I think I did well and credit goes to Kusal and Chandimal as well. I think I had the same mindset and some small changes to the way I batted in England, made some tweaks while playing spin”