New Zealand's captain said, "Rachin kept us in the hunt with that chase," after the embarrassing defeat against Sri Lanka

New Zealand suffered a shocking defeat to Sri Lanka in the first Test of the 2-match series at Galle, losing by 63 runs. Despite the loss, Black Caps Test captain Tim Southee is backing his team to bounce back in the series decider, scheduled for 26th September at the same venue. Batting first, the home team posted a total of 305 runs, led by rising star Kamindu Mendis, who notched another century for the Lankan Lions following brilliant performances against India and England. Wicketkeeper-batter Kusal Mendis also made a crucial contribution with a fighting half-century, supporting de Silva and the rest of the team. Sri Lankan bowlers executed their plans perfectly, dismissing the visitors for 340 runs. Prabath Jayasuriya and Ramesh Mendis were the standout bowlers, taking 4 and 3 wickets, respectively. In the second innings, it was a collective batting effort from the Sri Lankan team that set a challenging target for New Zealand, ultimately securing a victory by 63 runs. Despite their loss, the Kiwis displayed tremendous grit, taking the game into the final day and almost managing to force a draw.

New Zealand captain Tim Southee took plenty of positives from his team's performance in the first of five consecutive Test matches in the subcontinent. One of the standout performers for New Zealand was young opener Rachin Ravindra, who impressed with a brilliant knock of 92 in the fourth innings. While he couldn't guide his team to victory, his innings showcased his immense talent. This wasn't the first time Ravindra has demonstrated his potential — during New Zealand's last tour of India, he played a key role in salvaging a draw with a determined 18* off 91 balls.

"Rachin kept us in the hunt with that chase," Southee said after the 63-run loss. "We knew it was tough ask and that it was going to take something special, with the wicket taking a lot of turn in these last couple of days. It was a great knock in those conditions.

"It's not easy to bat; the ball was spinning and doing all sorts. For a young guy without a lot of experience in this part of the world to go out and get 90-odd was great signs for him as well. He's another one that's an exceptional talent, and he's had a little taste of international cricket as well, and done exceptionally well. He's a great young kid with a good head on his shoulders."

New Zealand will travel to India for a 2-match Test series following their tour of Sri Lanka, as part of the ICC World Test Championship, starting next month.