Twitter Reacts As Dimuth Karunaratne Leads Sri Lanka To First Test Championship Match Win

The hosts Sri Lanka were able to draw first blood as they defeated New Zealand by six wickets. Thus, Sri Lanka has commenced their Test championship campaign in style as they get 60 points for this win. Sri Lanka’s skipper Dimuth Karunaratne scored a brilliant hundred in the second innings to help his team chase down the target of 268 runs.

Read More: MS Dhoni Completes Army Stint, Spotted At Leh airport

Meanwhile, New Zealand skipper Kane Williamson had won the toss and decided to bat first. The visitors posted 249 runs in the first innings after Ross Taylor top-scored with 86 runs. However, the rest of the batsmen could not even cross the 50-run mark despite getting off to starts.

Sri Lanka draws first blood.

Suranga Lakmal scalped four wickets for the hosts whereas Akila Dananjaya took a five-wicket haul to breathe down the neck of the Kiwis.

SHORTS

View More

Your daily dose of cricket!

Loading...

Subsequently, Sri Lanka managed a lead of 28 runs after three half-centuries from Kusal Mendis, Angelo Mathews, and Niroshan Dickwella. There were crucial contributions from Dimuth Karunaratne and Suranga Lakmal as they scored 39 and 40 respectively.

Trent Boult and William Sommerville scalped two and three respectively while Ajaz Patel took a fifer for the tourists.

New Zealand had their backs against the wall as they were tottering at 98-5. However, their wicket-keeper batsman BJ Watling scored a fine knock of 77 runs to keep them in the contest. The visitors ended up with 285 runs to give a target of 268 runs to the hosts.

Lasith Embuldeniya was the pick of the Sri Lankan bowlers in the second innings as he took four wickets. Dhananjaya de Silva scalped three wickets whereas Lahiru Kumara bagged two.

Read More: Fans Who Booed Steve Smith Are Not Cricket Lovers, Says Mitchell Johnson

Sri Lanka was given an excellent start as Dimuth Karunaratne and Lahiru Thirimanne added 161 runs for the opening stand. Thirimanne scored 64 whereas the Sri Lankan captain went on to score a brilliant 122. Thus, Sri Lanka got over the line with six wickets in hand.

Here is how Twitter reacted to Sri Lanka’s win:

There hasn't been a single drawn Test in Sri Lanka in five years. 25th straight match today with an outright result. #SLvNZ

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 18, 2019

SL have made a habit of chasing down sizeable targets. There is hope in a dark tunnel #SLvNZ

— Bharath Ramaraj (@Fancricket12) August 18, 2019

Sri Lanka become 2nd Test team & 1st Asian team to win a Test in World Test Championship & lead table with 60 points. 268/4 highest Test successful run chase at Galle (prv 99/3). 3 wins in 3 Test for Dimuth as captain who sealed with a stunning 122. Played Sri Lanka ? @IamDimuth

— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) August 18, 2019

Highest successful 4th inngs run chases since 2016:
388 SL v Zim Colombo 2017
322 WI v Eng Headingley 2017
304 SL v SA Durban 2019
268 SL v NZ Galle 2019

Chase masters.#SLvNZ

— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) August 18, 2019

Congratulations @IamDimuth and the team https://t.co/QlNnvvqidk

— Thisara perera (@PereraThisara) August 18, 2019

A memorable chase with full crowd at Galle is always special. This team is giving hopes to this country. Great for cricket. #SLvNZ pic.twitter.com/Dh3u8pVz1x

— Johns (@CricCrazyJohns) August 18, 2019

Am I The Only One Seeing Graeme Smith Comparisons With Dimuth So Far? A Lot Can Change In The Future Though #SLvNZ

— Chatil Panditasekara (@ChatilPandi) August 18, 2019

Well done @OfficialSLC ?
A gem of an innings led by @IamDimuth and let's not forget the contribution done by @thiri66 on a record breaking partnership. Let's make this 2-0 at the end of the series✌?#SLvNZ #lionsroar #testchampionship

— yoosuf ali ?? (@Yoosuf1999) August 18, 2019

Well done captain dimma @IamDimuth and team @OfficialSLC for historical win at galle. Grate start for #testchampionship #SLvNZ

— hasantha pamuditha (@HasanthaPamu910) August 18, 2019

Dimuth Karunaratne's 4th innings average is 40.33. Among active Test openers with a considerable experience only one has a better average – David Warner (46.63). #SLvNZ

— Mazher Arshad (@MazherArshad) August 18, 2019

A fourth innings hundred is special. And it has come from a very fine player. #DimuthKarunaratne.

— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) August 18, 2019

Well played @OfficialSLC. Great effort @IamDimuth and the team. to win in Galle on the 5th day chasing do need character.. Very proud ?

— Mahela Jayawardena (@MahelaJay) August 18, 2019