Jayasuriya guides Sri Lanka to take 1-0 lead

Sri Lanka took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series

Prabath Jayasuriya took another five-wicket haul

By M. Shamil Amit reporting from Galle 

Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya shone with another five-wicket haul and guided Sri Lanka to a comfortable 63-run win against New Zealand in the first Test match, which  concluded at the Galle Stadium yesterday.

Jayasuriya, following his four-wicket haul in the first innings, ended with a matchbag of nine wickets, which helped Sri Lanka to take a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.
Defeat was staring at New Zealand when play concluded at the end of the fourth day’s play as they were struggling on 207 for eight with only Rachin Ravindra, who was on 91, the sole recognised batsman left to save them on the final day.

But it was not to be as Jayasuriya struck in the third ball of his first over in the morning and the second of the day with the prize wicket of Ravindra, who was able to add only one run to his overnight score of 91 and the dismissal almost hit the nail on the coffin.

Last man William O’ Rourke was left with a daunting task together with Ajaz Patel to chase the remaining 66 runs for victory but they were unable to make any impression as O’Rourke had his wickets disturbed which paved the way for Sri Lanka to coast to a comfortable 63-run win. 

In fact, Sri Lanka needed only 3.4 overs to achieve their win. The win also helped Sri Lanka move up to third place of the World Test Championship Points Table following India and Australia with New Zealand in fourth place.

“Our side is capable of winning Test matches and in this match we had the confidence after the partnership between Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal,” Sri Lanka Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva said after the match.

“But we will have to work out and put in more effort to improve our bowling and the late order batting,” he added.

The two sides will play their second Test match from September 26 at the same venue.