Ireland in command

2nd Test Sri Lanka vs Ireland

Three fine half centuries by skipper Andy Balbirnie (95), Paul Stirling (74 rtd hurt) and Lorcan Tucker (78 not out) helped Ireland to take command end of day one of the Second Test match against Sri Lanka at the Galle International Cricket Stadium (GICS) today.

Ireland who won the toss and without any hesitation elected to bat first on a spin friendly pitch in Galle which is expected to take turn later on with the game progressing. Sri Lanka went with the same outfit a possible debut for the former Peterite Dushan Hemantha being missed out while Ireland brought in three changes bringing in Paul Stirling, Graham Hume and Matthew Humphreys in to the playing XI replacing Murray Commins, Mark Adair and George Dockrel. Matthew Humphreys was making his Test debut at the Down South Venue for Ireland.

James McCollum and Peter Moor opened the batting for the Ireland outfit but they did not survive for too long as Peter Moor was trapped leg before by Asitha Fernando after a review when umpire Paul Reiffel gave the batsman not out. His opening partner, James McCollum too didn’t last long as he was caught behind in the very first over bowled by chief destroyer of the first game, Prabath Jayasuriya. Both lost their wickets cheaply. Skipper Andy Balbirnie who came to the wicket batted elegantly and at a rapid pace to reach his half century off only 43 balls. His partner, Tector was given out LBW off Ramesh Mendis on 11 but the batsman successfully appealed against and the decision which was turned down as the ball was missing the stumps. But Tector did not make use of this as he did not last long, was going for a lofted shot only to be caught by Chandimal at mid-on off Jayasuriya. Both Balbirnie and Stirling batted well to take Ireland for Lunch at 106 for 3.

During Lunch to tea period both skipper, Andy Balbirnie and his deputy, Paul Stirling batted tactfully with hardly any support for the bowlers from the flat Galle wicket. They both started the partnership at 89 for 3 and took the scores to 199 for 3 without losing any wicket. Though the progress was slow compared to session one they batted very carefully without losing any wickets. Both looked comfortable in their shots and hardly gave any opportunities for the Sri Lankan bowlers who were made to work hard unlike the first test.

Shortly after tea Stirling was feeling the Galle heat as he got a cramp and needed to be “retired hurt” when he was on 74, was taken off the field. Both Stirling (74) and Balbirnie (90) put on an unfinished 115 runs partnership for the 4th wicket. Stirling who missed out on the first test batted with lot of authority scoring his runs inclusive o six fboundaries and three huge sixes. Lorcan Tucker joined Balbernie at the wicket. Skipper, Balbernie who batted with lot of authority lost out on a possible century when he was out at 95. His Innings consisted of 14 lovely boundaries. This gave the home team a glimmer of hope for a comeback. Fall of skipper’s wicket made Curtis Campher to join the Tucker at the wicket. Both put on 87 unbroken partnership for the 5th wicket. Though Sri Lanka took the new ball soon after the 80th over they never looked like taking a wicket with both spinners and Vishwa Fernando were off target. Ireland reached 300 runs in the 86th over of the game and reached 319 for 4 at stumps on day 1.

Sri Lanka Spin Bowling Coach, Piyal Wijethunge said “We did not bowl well and Ireland batted well due to our lapses. We need to improve on this and restrict from giving away free runs. When runs are leaking from one end its difficult to content a team. We need to build up pressure and get the remaining wickets as quickly as possible. I think Stirling will come back to bat so maximum we should keep them within another 125 more runs.

Ireland skipper, Andy Balbirnie said “I am happy with my team performance after having a shocking first test last week. Stirling will come back to bat today. He did very well and made my job easier. We are looking for a big score in first innings to put the pressure on Sri Lanka but we will need to bat well in the first session day 2. We did not have any score board pressure so we did our best. He ended as saying I am not too disappointed missing out on a century but happy with the team performance scoring over 300 runs for only 4 wickets which remarkable and we need to build from here on day 2’.

IRELAND 1st Innings

• J. McCollum c Samarawickrama b Jayasuriya 10
• P. Moor lbw b AM Fernando 05
• A. Balbirnie c de Silva b R. Mendis 95
• H. Tector c Chandimal b Jayasuriya 18
• P. Stirling retired hurt 74
• L. Tucker not out 78
• C.Campher not out 27

EXTRAS: (b 4, lb 7, nb 1) 12

TOTAL: 90 Ov at close 319/4

FALL OF WICKETS: 1-12. 2-43 3-89, , 4-232

BOWLING: V.Fernando 15-1-68-00, A. Fernando 13-2-46-01, P. Jayasuriya 32-7-95-02, R. Mendis 19-2-84-0, D. de Silva 11-4-15-00. 

Text by: Shamseer Jaleel in Galle