Sri Lanka is favoured to win the first Test against New Zealand, who need 68 runs with only two wickets left after the fourth day’s play at the Galle International Cricket Stadium yesterday. The first session of the game today will see both teams vying for victory, but New Zealand faces added pressure.
It has been a fierce battle between the two teams. New Zealand’s leg-spinner Ajaz Patel took 6 wickets for 90 runs, helping to restrict Sri Lanka’s second innings to 309, just 30 minutes before lunch.
New Zealand now has a target of 275 runs, but Sri Lanka’s bowlers, particularly the spin duo of Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis, took three wickets each, leaving New Zealand struggling at 207 for 8 at the close of play.
Rachin Ravindra remains Kiwis’ only hope at the crease, unbeaten on 91 off 158 balls, with 9 fours and a six, while Ajaz Patel ended the day not out. Ravindra, who came in at number four, narrowly escaped several times as Sri Lanka’s spinners applied pressure, taking advantage of the spin-friendly Galle wicket.
Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka started their second innings at 237 for 7 wickets. Dhananjaya de Silva was the first to be dismissed, scoring 40 runs off 77 balls with 4 boundaries, stumped by wicketkeeper Tom Blundell off Ajaz Patel.
Angelo Mathews fought hard for his half-century, scoring 50 runs off 111 balls (his 43rd half-century) before being caught by Daryl Mitchell off Patel. Kusal Mendis contributed 23 runs before being bowled by Patel, as Sri Lanka’s lower order struggled to finish at 309, with Ajaz Patel being the standout bowler of the day.
New Zealand is chasing 275 runs. Tom Latham scored 28, and Kane Williamson added 30 after Devon Conway was out early for just 4 runs due to Asitha Fernando’s good bowling. Williamson was stumped by Kusal Mendis off Prabath Jayasuriya, and Tom Blundell made 30 runs off 43 balls as Sri Lanka bowlers maintained the pressure. Rachin Ravindra stepped up for New Zealand but had little support. Sri Lanka has a strong chance to take two early wickets today and win the match, but Ravindra is still a tough challenge for them.
