Prabhat Jayasuriya spins Sri Lanka to impressive win over NZ despite Rachin Ravindra’s gutsy fightback at Galle.
Prabhat Jayasuriya took 9 wickets in the match as Sri Lanka beat New Zealand by 63 runs to lead 1-0 in the 2-test series.
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 off 168 balls. Jayasuriya came around the wicket and threw one up on leg, catching Ravindra in the crease playing off-line. He checked, but there would be no turning back once it was determined to be pitching in line.
And with that, any residual expectations of a renowned rearguard were promptly dashed. Jayasuriya took his fifth wicket of the innings when Will O’Rourke failed to stop just five deliveries, the sixth of which slid past his forward defence and onto off stump.
After an outstanding performance in the match, O’Rourke would not have been quite happy with the way things ended. He finished with eight wickets, which is tied with Ajaz Patel for second most in the whole Test series.
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 upcoming 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.