Sri Lanka Dominate Day One of Second Test Against New Zealand
Galle, Sri Lanka – Dinesh Chandimal’s masterful century propelled Sri Lanka to a commanding position on the opening day of the second Test against New Zealand in Galle. The left-handed batsman notched up his 16th Test century, his sixth at the picturesque venue, guiding the hosts to a formidable 306-3 at stumps.
Chandimal’s innings was a testament to his patience and shot-making prowess. He capitalized on loose deliveries, hitting 15 boundaries in his knock of 116. His partnership with Dimuth Karunaratne (46) laid the foundation for Sri Lanka’s strong start.
Angelo Mathews (78) and Kamindu Mendis (51) continued the momentum, hitting half-centuries to further bolster Sri Lanka’s position. Mendis’ fifty marked a world record eighth consecutive fifty since his debut two years ago. Mathews became the sixth cricketer to score 2,000 Test runs at a single venue, joining an elite group that includes Joe Root and Graham Gooch.
New Zealand’s bowlers struggled to contain Sri Lanka’s batsmen, missing crucial chances that could have halted their progress. Daryl Mitchell dropped two catches, including a sitter to dismiss Chandimal early on. Tom Blundell also missed a stumping opportunity off Karunaratne.
Sri Lanka’s dominance was a continuation of their impressive performance in the first Test, which they won by 63 runs. New Zealand, on the other hand, have yet to win any of their five previous Tests at Galle.
The Black Caps paid tribute to their late manager, Ian Taylor, by wearing black armbands. Taylor managed the New Zealand team from 1980 to 1990.
