Sri Lanka vs New Zealand second Test: Kiwis struggle as Prabath Jayasuriya shines at Galle

The unfolding of Sri Lanka's redemption or a doomed tale of New Zealand's fall in red-ball cricket, however one may perceive it, Galle is currently hosting an epic Test match. The second Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test has witnessed the Kiwis hitting unreal lows against an all-around Sri Lankan attack. The match in Galle began with the hosts winning the toss and opting to bat first. What followed was a dominant performance by the Sri Lankan batters against the Kiwi bowlers. Kamindu Mendis rushed into the record books with his 182-run knock in the first innings. Furthermore, Kamindu's impressive innings, combined with centuries by Chandimal and Kusal Mendis, led Sri Lanka to post a total of 602 before declaring the innings against New Zealand.

Sri Lanka vs New Zealand: Hosts threaten New Zealand with an innings defeat at Galle

The first Test of the Sri Lanka vs New Zealand series was a closely fought battle, with Rachin Ravindra threatening to chase the target with his 92-run innings. However, the second Test has provided New Zealand with no breathing space, as Sri Lanka continues to excel with both bat and ball. Sri Lanka started the contest with all-rounder Kamindu Mendis making his mark in world cricket. The Lankan all-rounder, who began the series with a century in the first Test, became the first player in the 147-year history of Test cricket to achieve a 50-plus score in each of his first eight Test matches.

Moreover, as Mendis registered another century in consecutive Tests, he became the third-fastest player to reach 1,000 Test runs, achieving the feat in just 13 innings. As if Mendis' performance alone wasn't enough to trouble the visitors, Dinesh Chandimal and wicket-keeper Kusal Mendis also scored centuries, taking Sri Lanka's total to a massive 602.

In response to the huge target, New Zealand crumbled to a paltry total of 88 in their first innings. Sri Lanka's spin sensation, Prabath Jayasuriya, dismantled New Zealand's batting lineup by claiming six wickets for 42 runs. The 88-run innings, in which only two Kiwi batters, Daryl Mitchell and Rachin Ravindra managed to reach double figures, is now registered as New Zealand's lowest score against Sri Lanka.

New Zealand pushed into follow on Day 3 after Prabath Jayasuriya scalps 6 wickets 

After losing all their wickets for just 88, New Zealand trailed Sri Lanka by a substantial 514 runs. Naturally, the hosts enforced the follow-on on Day 3. As it stands at the end of Day 3 of the second Sri Lanka vs New Zealand Test, New Zealand has lost five wickets for 199 runs in the follow-on innings. In this innings, Tom Latham fell in the first over, caught at bat-pad by Pathum Nissanka off Peiris. Williamson and Devon Conway remained unbeaten at lunch, with New Zealand needing a significant effort to avoid an innings defeat.

New Zealand, with Conway and Williamson at the crease, somewhat redeemed their earlier performance. After lunch, Devon Conway and Kane Williamson put together a 97-run partnership, with Conway leading a counterattack by hitting several boundaries. Williamson also found the boundary occasionally, and together they quickly brought up their fifty-run stand. Conway reached his half-century off just 48 balls, successfully overturning an lbw decision.

Conway eventually fell for 61, with Dinesh Chandimal running back from cover to take a well-judged catch. Williamson was dismissed shortly after, miscuing a shot to long-on off Peiris for 46. Daryl Mitchell then handed a catch to short-leg off Jayasuriya, while Rachin Ravindra was bowled by Peiris, leaving New Zealand at 129 for five at tea, before Blundell and Phillips offered some resistance.

Day 3 play was called off early due to poor light, which was soon followed by rain, resulting in the entire field being covered. Only ten overs could be bowled during the third session, which, unlike the rest of the day, saw no wickets fall. Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips took an aggressive approach against Peiris, hitting four sixes and a four between them, as they remained unbeaten with a 78-run partnership.

While New Zealand seems to have found a footing in Galle, the visitors are still far from a win. In fact, the Kiwis are staring at the possibility of enduring their biggest defeat in Test history. The touring side trails by 315 runs on Day 3 of the Sri Lanka vs. New Zealand second Test and will need to put on a determined display in the coming days to avoid an innings defeat in Galle. For Sri Lanka, a victory in this Test would mean their first series win against New Zealand in red-ball cricket since 2009.