Sri Lanka end 15-yr drought
Sweep Test series with their biggest win against NZ
Monday, 30 September 2024
GALLE, Sri Lanka, Sept 29 (Agencies): Sri Lanka stormed to a series victory over New Zealand, securing the two-match test series with a resounding innings and 154-run triumph on the fourth day in Galle on Sunday.
This victory, Sri Lanka's most dominant over the Kiwis, also marks their first win against New Zealand in 15 years.
They moved to third place - behind India and Australia - in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings, while 2021 champions New Zealand slipped to seventh.
However, New Zealand were all out for 360 in their second innings before tea on day four after being asked to follow-on.
Debutant Nishan Peiris, 27, and fellow spinner Prabath Jayasuriya shared 18 wickets in the match, the latter taking 6-42 in the first innings to bundle out the tourists for just 88 after the hosts had amassed a mammoth 602-5 declared.
"Amazing how the batting unit rose to the occasion," Sri Lanka captain Dhananjaya de Silva told reporters.
"Then the spinners were too good... Once we bowled them out for less than 100 runs in the first innings, it was very difficult for them to come back into the game."
New Zealand's lower order did put up some fight after resuming at 199-5 on Sunday, with Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips and Mitchell Santner all making half-centuries.
Peiris, who had taken three second-innings wickets on Saturday, trapped Blundell lbw for 60 early in the first session, ending a 95-run stand with Phillips.
Santner helped craft a 64-run partnership for the seventh wicket before the gutsy Phillips fell on 78 when he mistimed a shot to long-on, giving Peiris his maiden five-wicket haul.
Santner put together a stubborn ninth-wicket stand of 53 with Ajaz Patel before the latter was sent back, bowled by Jayasuriya, on 22.
Sri Lanka sealed the victory when Santner's gritty resistance was finally broken, stumped by Kusal Mendis for 67 off Peiris.
"Galle is a tough place to come and play cricket and Sri Lanka are a strong team here," said New Zealand captain Tim Southee.
"We were on the wrong side of the toss and we struggled to make the breakthroughs. We really struggled to come back from there," he added.
Sri Lanka could have wrapped up the match and series in the morning session but for a succession of dropped catches.