Cricket

Spinner Prabath Jayasuriya's remarkable performance led Sri Lanka to a dominant position in the second Test against New Zealand. Jayasuriya's nine-wicket haul, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings, played a pivotal role in New Zealand's collapse to 88 all out.Resuming their first innings at a precarious 22-2, New Zealand's batsmen failed to put up a fight. Jayasuriya dismissed Kane Williamson in the third over, triggering a batting collapse. Only Mitchell Santner (29) and William O'Rourke (2) managed to reach double figures.Sri Lanka captain Dhanajaya de Silva enforced the follow-on, and New Zealand stuttered to lunch at 3-1 after facing two overs in their second innings. Tom Latham was the man out, caught by Pathum Nissanka off the bowling of Nishan Peiris.Jayasuriya's performance was particularly impressive as he now needs just six more wickets in the second innings to equal the record for the fastest bowler to reach 100 Test wickets. The record has stood since 1896 when England's George Lohmann achieved the milestone in his 16th Test.De Silva's five catches at first slip tied the record for most in a Test innings by a non-wicketkeeper, a milestone shared with 15 others.Sri Lanka's dominance in the match has put New Zealand in a precarious position. The visitors need to avoid an innings defeat and will need a significant improvement in their batting performance in the second innings.

Kamindu Mendis has etched his name into the annals of cricket history, becoming the joint third-fastest player to reach the coveted milestone of 1,000 test runs. His remarkable achievement came during the second test against New Zealand in Galle, where Sri Lanka tightened its grip on the match.Mendis's blistering innings mirrored the legendary Don Bradman, who achieved the feat in 1930 against England at Headingley. Only England's Herbert Sutcliffe and West Indies great Everton Weekes reached the landmark in fewer innings, doing so in 12 knocks.In a career that has blossomed rapidly, Mendis notched his fifth century before lunch, his second century in two tests. Later, with audacious flair, he brought up his 1,000th run by stepping down the track to Rachin Ravindra and smashing a towering six straight back over the bowler's head.This remarkable achievement made him not only the fastest Sri Lankan but also the quickest Asian to the milestone, surpassing the likes of Sri Lanka great Roy Dias (23 innings) and India's Vinod Kambli (14).The crowd's celebrations were bittersweet, however, as Sri Lanka declared before Mendis could reach his maiden double century. He was unbeaten on 182 off 250 balls, an innings laced with 16 boundaries and four massive sixes."Kamindu Mendis has been sensational for us this year," said teammate Angelo Mathews. "He is doing stuff that none of us were able to do early in our careers. He is very matured, knows his game and plays very positively."Mendis found strong support from Kusal Mendis, who shrugged off recent struggles to post an undefeated 106, his 10th test century. Demoted to No. 7 in the order after disappointing performances, Kusal responded with a measured innings, combining with Kamindu for an unbroken 200-run partnership, the highest sixth-wicket stand for Sri Lanka against New Zealand on home soil. This partnership also set a record as the highest sixth-wicket stand in Galle, by any team, further cementing Sri Lanka's dominance.Earlier in the day, the hosts lost Mathews (88) and skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (44) in the morning session, but Kamindu's relentless march, paired with Kusal's defiance, ensured Sri Lanka remained firmly in the driver's seat, with thoughts of a 2-0 series sweep looming large.New Zealand, meanwhile, missed crucial chances again to rein in Sri Lanka. Daryl Mitchell dropped Kamindu on 26 and Tom Blundell fluffing a straightforward stumping when he was on 113. The misery continued for the Kiwis when Sri Lanka struck early in their innings. Asitha Fernando set the tone, dismissing Tom Latham in the very first over with a sharp catch at gully. Prabath Jayasuriya then removed the other opener Devon Conway, snapped up at slip by De Silva on 9."It's a tough ask for us now," said New Zealand's Luke Ronchi. "The important thing is to play each ball, build partnerships and see through sessions. We have done it before in tough conditions. We need to take the game as deep as possible."

New Zealand's nightmare continued on day two in Galle as Sri Lanka piled on a mammoth 296 runs for the loss of just two wickets. Despite New Zealand's valiant efforts, their bowlers toiled fruitlessly for over 124 overs, with only Glenn Phillips managing to create any significant impact.The overcast conditions provided some respite for the visitors, but the batting conditions eased up considerably on day two, allowing Sri Lanka's batters to dominate proceedings. Dhananjaya de Silva's decision to bat first proved crucial, as the surface became drier and harder, making it easier for the batters to score runs.New Zealand batting coach Luke Ronchi acknowledged the difference in the surface, stating that it was "a nice surface" for batters once they were in. Angelo Mathews, who scored a half-century for Sri Lanka, echoed these sentiments.Ronchi praised the Sri Lankan batters for their exceptional performance but also lamented New Zealand's missed opportunities on day one. He emphasized the importance of applying themselves and following their processes as a batting group."We did that in the first Test, so we need to sort of back our plans and our processes and the work we've done," Ronchi said. "That's something we've done really well for a number of years. It's not about looking at an end-product type thing, but the processes and how we're going to make the best of each ball, each moment and each partnership."With New Zealand still 580 runs adrift and having lost two wickets in the final 45 minutes of play, Ronchi stressed the need to take the game as deep as possible."You just want to just go out there and bat, and bat for as long as we can as well. That's a massive part of what's going to happen. There's three days left, so we've got to make sure that we can bat well and sort of see what happens."

Five-time Women's T20 World Cup champion Jess Jonassen believes India is the frontrunner for the upcoming tournament due to their depth, versatility, and familiarity with the spin-friendly UAE pitches. Jonassen, who missed out on Australia's squad for this edition, also highlighted England and Sri Lanka as favorites to make the top four.Despite Australia's dominance in the tournament, Jonassen acknowledges the challenges they face in defending their title due to their lack of experience in UAE conditions. However, she emphasizes that Australia's big-tournament experience and adaptability should not be underestimated.Jonassen also addressed concerns about India's bowling depth, stating that the team has versatile players like Jemimah Rodrigues who can contribute with the ball. She believes that spin will play a crucial role in the tournament, and teams that adapt best to the conditions will have an advantage.Despite her disappointment at missing out on the squad, Jonassen expressed pride in her efforts and acknowledged that she gave her all to earn selection. She will be watching the tournament closely and supporting her teammates from afar.

Sri Lanka's dominance continued unabated on day two of the Test against New Zealand, as they extended their first innings total to 402 for 5 at lunch. Despite the overcast conditions and increased turn for the spinners, the hosts remained in control, thanks to an unbeaten 93 from Kamindu Mendis.The session began with Angelo Mathews adding 10 runs to his overnight tally before falling to Glenn Phillips' nagging line and length. Phillips struck again just before lunch, dismissing Dhananjaya de Silva for 44. However, Mendis' presence at the crease ensured that Sri Lanka maintained their momentum.Mendis, who became the first batter to score fifty-plus in each of his first eight Tests, continued his impressive form. He struck boundaries off Will O'Rourke and Mitchell Santner, showcasing his ability to rotate the strike and keep the scoreboard ticking.De Silva, who had launched Phillips for a six early in his innings, was eventually undone by the off-spinner's variations. Looking to sweep, he top-edged the ball, which was well caught by Tom Blundell.Despite the late wicket, Sri Lanka remained in a strong position. Mendis, who has yet to be dismissed in the match, is closing in on a fifth Test century. His partnership with de Silva was the fifth fifty-plus stand of the innings, highlighting the depth of Sri Lanka's batting lineup.New Zealand's bowlers, led by Phillips, have struggled to contain the Sri Lankan batsmen. Phillips has taken three wickets, but his economy rate of 6.50 is a testament to the ease with which the hosts have scored runs.

Sri Lanka Dominate Day One of Second Test Against New ZealandGalle, Sri Lanka - Dinesh Chandimal's masterful century propelled Sri Lanka to a commanding position on the opening day of the second Test against New Zealand in Galle. The left-handed batsman notched up his 16th Test century, his sixth at the picturesque venue, guiding the hosts to a formidable 306-3 at stumps.Chandimal's innings was a testament to his patience and shot-making prowess. He capitalized on loose deliveries, hitting 15 boundaries in his knock of 116. His partnership with Dimuth Karunaratne (46) laid the foundation for Sri Lanka's strong start.Angelo Mathews (78) and Kamindu Mendis (51) continued the momentum, hitting half-centuries to further bolster Sri Lanka's position. Mendis' fifty marked a world record eighth consecutive fifty since his debut two years ago. Mathews became the sixth cricketer to score 2,000 Test runs at a single venue, joining an elite group that includes Joe Root and Graham Gooch.New Zealand's bowlers struggled to contain Sri Lanka's batsmen, missing crucial chances that could have halted their progress. Daryl Mitchell dropped two catches, including a sitter to dismiss Chandimal early on. Tom Blundell also missed a stumping opportunity off Karunaratne.Sri Lanka's dominance was a continuation of their impressive performance in the first Test, which they won by 63 runs. New Zealand, on the other hand, have yet to win any of their five previous Tests at Galle.The Black Caps paid tribute to their late manager, Ian Taylor, by wearing black armbands. Taylor managed the New Zealand team from 1980 to 1990.

Sri Lanka and New Zealand locked horns in the second Test match in Galle, with the visitors opting to bowl first after winning the toss. The pitch, number 7, offered less grass and a firmer surface, providing a challenge for the batsmen.New Zealand's Tim Southee struck early, dismissing Pathum Nissanka for a duck in the first over. Nissanka nicked a delivery that nipped away from him, giving Tom Blundell a simple catch. Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal steadied the Sri Lankan innings, but the hosts struggled to build partnerships.William O'Rourke, sharing the new ball with Southee, bowled a maiden over to Karunaratne. However, he spilled a chance to dismiss the left-hander in his next over, with Daryl Mitchell dropping a catch at first slip.Chandimal, who came in at number 3, showed some aggression, hitting a boundary off Southee. However, he was dismissed for 41 by Ajaz Patel, who bowled a flatter delivery that Chandimal could only tap towards cover-point.Karunaratne, who had been watchful throughout his innings, was eventually dismissed for 28 by O'Rourke. The left-hander was caught behind after edging a delivery that swung away from him.Sri Lanka's middle order failed to make significant contributions, with Angelo Mathews, Kamindu Mendis, and Dhananjaya de Silva all falling cheaply. Kusal Mendis, the wicket-keeper, provided some resistance with a 25-ball 20, but he was eventually dismissed by Patel.At the end of the day's play, Sri Lanka were struggling at 122/7, with Prabath Jayasuriya and Nishan Peiris at the crease. New Zealand's bowlers had been disciplined and accurate, with Southee, Patel, and O'Rourke sharing the wickets.

Sri Lanka, riding high on their recent success, have once again opted to bat first in the second Test against New Zealand in Galle. The decision, made after winning the toss, is a testament to their confidence in their batting lineup and the spin-friendly conditions expected on the Galle pitch.Dhananjaya de Silva, Sri Lanka's captain, expressed optimism about the pitch, stating that it appeared "firmer than the last one with less grass." This suggests that the pitch may offer more bounce and carry, potentially favoring the batsmen.Sri Lanka has made two changes to their team for this Test. Milan Rathnayake, who impressed in his debut series in England, replaces Lahiru Kumara, while Nishan Peiris makes his debut in place of offspinner Ramesh Mendis. Rathnayake's inclusion adds depth to the bowling attack, while Peiris provides a like-for-like replacement for Mendis.New Zealand, on the other hand, has opted to field an unchanged team after their spirited performance in the first Test, which they lost by a narrow margin of 63 runs. The Kiwis will be eager to build on their positive display and secure a victory in Galle.The weather forecast for the match predicts short and sharp showers, but the conditions at the time of the toss were bright and sunny. Sri Lanka, currently third in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, will be aiming for another victory to strengthen their position and move closer to Australia, who are second.New Zealand, currently fourth in the WTC standings, will be keen to improve their performance and gain momentum ahead of their upcoming tour of India. The match promises to be an exciting contest between two evenly matched teams, with both sides looking to secure a crucial victory.

In the realm of Test cricket, the toss holds immense significance, particularly at the Galle International Stadium in Sri Lanka. Traditionally, teams opt to bat first to capitalize on the most favorable batting conditions. However, this strategy is not merely about maximizing runs but also about mitigating the potential pitfalls that emerge later in the match.In the recently concluded first Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand, the hosts won the toss and elected to bat. Despite the early signs of a challenging pitch, Sri Lanka managed to post a respectable 305 in their first innings. However, the match took a dramatic turn as the pitch deteriorated, making batting increasingly difficult.New Zealand's batters initially enjoyed the more favorable conditions on day two, but they too succumbed to a late collapse. The match ultimately swung in Sri Lanka's favor as the pitch became more treacherous, with 14 wickets falling on day four and two wickets within 15 minutes on day five.Both teams acknowledged the importance of setting the tone early on, whether with the bat or ball. New Zealand head coach Gary Stead emphasized the significance of accumulating runs in the first innings to minimize the pressure in the second. Sri Lanka batting coach Thilina Kandamby echoed this sentiment, highlighting the need to establish a positive mindset and avoid collapses.However, both teams identified areas for improvement. New Zealand could have capitalized on their strong position on day three, but they lost their remaining five wickets for 86 runs. Sri Lanka, on the other hand, experienced batting collapses in both innings, particularly among their top-order batters.Sri Lanka's tail-enders have also been a concern, with minimal contributions in terms of runs. The team has brought in Milan Rathnayake to address this issue, but Kandamby emphasized that they are actively working to improve the overall batting depth.As the second Test approaches, both teams will be eager to learn from their mistakes and seize the initiative. The toss will once again play a crucial role, but the ability to adapt to the changing conditions and capitalize on key moments will ultimately determine the outcome.