Prabath Jayasuriya destroys New Zealand, bowls them out for 88 in Galle Test

Sri Lanka dominated New Zealand on a sunny morning in a stunning display of spin bowling, dismissing the visitors for a paltry 88 runs in their first innings in the ongoing second and final Test at the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle.

It was New Zealand's lowest-ever all-out total in Test cricket history. This embarrassing collapse came in response to Sri Lanka's massive first-inning total of 602, leaving New Zealand facing a daunting first-inning 514 run behind the hosts in the ongoing Galle Test.

New Zealand collapses for record low 88 in Galle Test against Sri Lanka

The day belonged to the Sri Lankan bowlers, particularly Prabath Jayasuriya, who spearheaded the attack with remarkable figures of 6/42. It was Jayasuriya’s 9th five-wicket haul in Test cricket and 8th at Galle in just 15 innings in the traditional format of the game.

Making his debut, Sri Lankan off-spinner Nishan Peiris was also instrumental, claiming three wickets, while Dhananjaya de Silva showcased his exceptional slip fielding with five catches. With New Zealand behind a massive 514 runs, the stage was set for a challenging follow-on.

9th Five wicket haul in Test cricket by Prabath Jayasuriya.

- 8th at Galle in just 15 innings. 🤯 pic.twitter.com/mJqyW5t33f

— Mufaddal Vohra (@mufaddal_vohra) September 28, 2024

Early on Day 3, nine wickets fell in the morning session, including the key wicket of Tom Latham for just two runs. This forced Kane Williamson to step up to the crease for the second inning shortly after finishing his first, adding to the mounting pressure on the tourists.

New Zealand's first innings had begun poorly, and things only worsened after resuming from their overnight score of 22/2. The batting lineup seemed to be in confusion as they struggled to find a rhythm against the Sri Lankan spinners.

Prabath Jayasuriya turns into a nightmare for New Zealand batters

Williamson (7) and Ajaz Patel (8) attempted to stabilize the innings, but the situation deteriorated quickly. Rachin Ravindra (10) employed aggressive tactics, but like others, the spin all-rounder also fell victim to the relentless Sri Lankan spin attack.

The ball showed signs of turning sharply, with the rough patches outside off stump helping immensely the spinners. Jayasuriya’s early breakthroughs set the tone for the day, as he expertly tempted Williamson into a false stroke, resulting in a catch to Dhananjaya.

Despite Ajaz’s resilient 41-ball stay, the batting order collapsed rapidly, with New Zealand losing six wickets for just 27 runs in the first inning. Daryl Mitchell (13) and Tim Southee (2) provided brief resistance, but they too succumbed to the spin barrage, with Jayasuriya and Peiris orchestrating the downfall.

Sri Lanka on the verge of a historic Test series win over the Kiwis

Mitchell Santner (29) offered some late fireworks with a couple of boundaries but couldn’t help much. Before lunch, New Zealand's situation worsened when Peiris struck again, dismissing Latham for a duck in the first over of the second inning, leaving the visitors reeling at 3/1.

However, Devon Conway (61) and Williamson (46) manage to stabilize the innings, as New Zealand is still trailing by 400 runs while chasing the daunting target with only seven wickets in hand in Galle.