Sri Lanka vs New Zealand - Hosts thrash Kiwis to secure series sweep in Galle

New Zealand improved their batting performance in the follow on against Sri Lanka on Day 4. However, the hill was too steep for the Kiwis to climb as the hosts ultimately claimed the victory. Hosting New Zealand for a two-match series in Galle, Sri Lanka has now sealed a whitewash over the Kiwis. Sri Lanka opened the second match with an unforgettable outing with the bat as the team set a mammoth score of 602 for the Kiwis to chase. New Zealand responded to the challenge with a rather poor display where the team was bundled for just 88 runs in the first innings. Eventually, the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand second Test ended up with a series victory for the Lankans as New Zealand sustained a defeat by an innings and 154 runs.

New Zealand faces 2-0 loss in Galle as the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test series concludes

The follow-on witnessed Tom Blundell, Glenn Phillips, and Mitchell Santner registering half-centuries in an effort to save the humiliation for New Zealand. However, the tenacious effort by the lower order wasn't enough to avoid a heavy defeat in the second Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test in Galle. Despite posting only 88 in their first innings, New Zealand showed more resilience after being asked to follow on, but their total of 360 all-out was insufficient as Sri Lanka secured a convincing innings and 154-run win, clinching the series 2-0. The victory by Sri Lanka is their biggest margin win over New Zealand. Moreover, the Asian team has won their first Test series over the Kiwis after 15 years with their last victory registered back in 2009.

New Zealand resumed the day at 199/5, and Blundell brought up his fifty early on. The partnership between Blundell and Phillips grew to 95 before Peiris struck again. Blundell missed a reverse sweep and was trapped lbw for 60, an innings that featured six boundaries and two sixes. Phillips and Santner continued to bat positively, with Phillips reaching his fifty and both batsmen finding regular boundaries. The seventh-wicket stand crossed 50 before Phillips went for one big shot too many, resulting in a catch at long-on, giving Peiris his fifth wicket.

Tim Southee played with aggressive intent, hitting a four and a six off Jayasuriya before being bowled. Ajaz Patel, who was dropped in the slips off Peiris, supported Santner well as the latter struck two boundaries and a six off the off-spinner. Santner was also dropped at deep backward square, and the partnership extended to 44 before Lunch, with the pair adding six fours and three sixes between them.

The partnership crossed 50 shortly after the break, with Santner reaching a well-deserved fifty. Ajaz was dropped again by Dhananjaya de Silva before his innings ended at 53 after attempting a cut shot and being bowled by Jayasuriya. Santner continued his aggressive approach, adding a couple of more boundaries and a six before being stumped for 67, giving Peiris his sixth wicket and bringing an end to the innings and the match.

Recreating a similar innings like that of Prabath Jayasuriya in the first innings, Nishan Peiris scalped 6 wickets in the follow on. The debutante, moreover, rounded off with 9 wickets across both the innings in his maiden red-ball outing for Sri Lanka. Kamindu Mendis who set the tone for Sri Lanka’s victory with his 18-run knock was adjudged the ‘Player of the Match”. Meanwhile, Prabath Jayasuriya claimed the reward as the ‘Player of the series” as he picked 18 wickets across the two Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Tests in Galle.

New Zealand falls to seventh place in the WTC Standings

The 2-0 result in the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand series has left a significant mark on the current WTC Standings. Sitting at the third position, just below India and Australia, Sri Lanka has secured a realistic chance of featuring in the WTC Final. New Zealand, on the other hand, fell to the seventh position in the table. New Zealand will now cash with the table toppers on the New Zealand tour of India which starts in early October. Sri Lanka, meanwhile, has a two-match Test series lined up against South Africa before the WTC Final kicks off at Lord’s on June 11, 2025.

Earlier in the game, Sri Lanka's batsmen set the tone with a dominant first-innings display. Dinesh Chandimal (116), Kamindu Mendis (182*), and Kusal Mendis (106*) all scored centuries, while Angelo Mathews contributed 88, helping Sri Lanka post an imposing 602/5 declared. This score proved too much for New Zealand, whose two batting efforts fell well short, concluding a disappointing series for the visitors.