Sri Lanka vs New Zealand first Test; Prabath Jayasuriya shines in Sri Lankan win

Sri Lanka’s gamers have fun with teammates after their staff’s win on the finish of the primary Check cricket match towards New Zealand on the Galle Worldwide Cricket Stadium in Galle on September 23, 2024.
| Picture Credit score: AFP

Prabath Jayasuriya took 5 wickets to steer Sri Lanka to a 63-run victory on Monday (September 23, 2024) towards New Zealand on the ultimate morning of the primary Check in Galle.

Set a goal of 275 to win, the Black Caps had been bowled out for 211 lower than quarter-hour after play resumed, with Rachin Ravindra top-scoring on 92.

“While you come to Galle, all that it’s essential to do is to stay to the fundamentals,” stated man-of-the-match Jayasuriya.

“The wicket supplies loads of help and also you simply must bowl with self-discipline. Your consistency is the important thing and there was lot of assist from the remainder of the spinners as nicely.”

Ravindra had completed on Sunday (September 22, 2024) waging a lone battle on a sharply turning pitch in Galle, the place the vacationers had misplaced all 4 of their earlier Check encounters.

His knock was the best rating by a New Zealander on the floor, eclipsing Ross Taylor’s 89 in 2019.

However the slender path to victory he had opened was snapped shut when Jayasuriya trapped him lbw whereas making an attempt to defend on the again foot.

The choice was upheld regardless of Ravindra’s overview, and he departed having added only one run to his in a single day complete.

Jayasuriya, who took 9 wickets throughout the match and completed the second innings 5 for 68, introduced the match to an finish when he bowled rookie pacer William O’Rourke for a duck.

“Disenchanted we didn’t get sufficient lead within the first innings,” New Zealand skipper Tim Southee stated.

“We had the sport within the hand, however we threw it away.”

‘Sensational’ O’Rourke lauded

O’Rourke, 23, had impressed for New Zealand with eight wickets, together with his second five-wicket haul from simply three Check appearances within the first innings.

“William O’Rourke has been sensible for us,” Southee stated.

“For him to return right here and do what he did was completely superb. He’s by no means performed in circumstances like these… when there’s not a lot for tempo bowling. His effort was sensational.”

New Zealand had trigger for cheer after combating on for a fifth day throughout their first Check in six months on a pitch the place they’ve at all times struggled.

Their scheduled warm-up towards Afghanistan earlier in September was washed out with no ball being bowled.

Left-arm spinner Ajaz Patel claimed 6-90 in Sri Lanka’s second innings, one of the best figures by a New Zealand bowler in Sri Lanka since Daniel Vettori’s 6-64 in Colombo in 1998.

Tom Latham, Kane Williamson, and Daryl Mitchell all contributed with half-centuries within the first innings.

The second and closing match of the collection will probably be held on the similar venue from Thursday.