Spinner Prabath Jayasuriya’s remarkable performance led Sri Lanka to a dominant position in the second Test against New Zealand. Jayasuriya’s nine-wicket haul, including a five-wicket haul in the first innings, played a pivotal role in New Zealand’s collapse to 88 all out.
Resuming their first innings at a precarious 22-2, New Zealand’s batsmen failed to put up a fight. Jayasuriya dismissed Kane Williamson in the third over, triggering a batting collapse. Only Mitchell Santner (29) and William O’Rourke (2) managed to reach double figures.
Sri Lanka captain Dhanajaya de Silva enforced the follow-on, and New Zealand stuttered to lunch at 3-1 after facing two overs in their second innings. Tom Latham was the man out, caught by Pathum Nissanka off the bowling of Nishan Peiris.
Jayasuriya’s performance was particularly impressive as he now needs just six more wickets in the second innings to equal the record for the fastest bowler to reach 100 Test wickets. The record has stood since 1896 when England’s George Lohmann achieved the milestone in his 16th Test.
De Silva’s five catches at first slip tied the record for most in a Test innings by a non-wicketkeeper, a milestone shared with 15 others.
Sri Lanka’s dominance in the match has put New Zealand in a precarious position. The visitors need to avoid an innings defeat and will need a significant improvement in their batting performance in the second innings.
