Watch cricket video highlights of New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka 2024. First Test between SL and NZ. Venue of the match will be Galle.
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On the last morning in Galle, Sri Lanka finished quickly, needing just fifteen minutes to take the last two wickets of New Zealand to win the first Test by 63 runs. As a consequence, Sri Lanka advances to a 1-0 lead in the two-match series and overtakes New Zealand to take third position in the World Test Championship (WTC) points standings. Leading Sri Lanka’s attack was none other than Prabath Jayasuriya, who finished with figures of 5 for 68, his ninth five-wicket haul and his seventh in Galle.
Having finished with match numbers of 9 for 204, he was named Player of the Match. Rachin Ravindra made it through just eight deliveries in the opening session of the penultimate morning after putting up such a fight the day before. Jayasuriya trapped him in front with an arm ball, and he scored 92 from 168 balls. As Ravindra was caught playing down the incorrect line at the crease, Jayasuriya came around the wicket and threw one up on leg. He checked, but there would be no turning back if it was determined to be pitching in line.
All thoughts of a legendary comeback were then dashed, as Will O’Rourke only managed to block five deliveries, the sixth of which found its way past his forward defense and into off stump, giving Jayasuriya his fifth wicket of the innings. After an outstanding performance in which he finished with eight wickets, the second-most in the whole Test and tied with Ajaz Patel, O’Rourke would not have been quite happy with the way the match concluded.
Regarding the WTC, this outcome maintains Sri Lanka’s outside prospects of qualifying for the championship match. However, it makes their mission much more difficult for New Zealand, given they have an away series against India and an upcoming home series against England in the next months. Both teams will have just two days off before the second Test, which will also be held in Galle on Thursday, so they won’t have time to reflect on this outcome.
