Sri Lanka’s Nishan Madushka (L) performs a shot as Ireland’s wicketkeeper Lorcan Tucker watches throughout fourth day of the second and ultimate cricket Test match between Sri Lanka and Ireland on the Galle International Cricket Stadium in Galle on April 27, 2023.
| Photo Credit: AFP
Nishan Madushka and Kusal Mendis transformed centuries into maiden doubles by baton-charging the Ireland bowlers as Sri Lanka sustained control of the second Test right here on April 27.
At stumps on day 4, Ireland was 54 for the lack of openers James McCollum (10) and Peter Moor (19) and nonetheless 159 runs from making Sri Lanka bat once more.
McCollum was brilliantly bowled by offspinner Ramesh Mendis and Moor was dismissed when Angelo Mathews held an excellent low catch at brief further cowl.
Sri Lanka was pushing for a one hundredth take a look at win and sequence sweep with the advantage of dwelling benefit and a fifth-day pitch.
Propelled by Madushka’s 205 and Mendis’ 245, Sri Lanka declared its first innings on 705-3 — a brand new floor file — instantly after Mathews notched his fifteenth and quickest century.
The earlier highest whole at Galle was 638 by Bangladesh in 2013.
Mathews was unbeaten on 100 off 114 balls after hitting 4 sixes and 6 boundaries. Dhananjaya de Silva, who changed an injured Dinesh Chandimal, was 12 not out.
Sri Lanka began the day on 357-1, nonetheless 135 runs behind Ireland’s first innings whole of 492, and batted with full control and clear intention to bump Ireland out of the match.
The first session noticed Mendis attain his ninth Test century, and his second in a row towards the Irish.
Mendis and Madushka added 132 runs on the morning of day 4 and 7 runs after lunch earlier than Andy McBrine ended their stand by eradicating Madushka for 205.
A size ball pitching round leg stump hit Madushka in entrance. The umpire was unmoved however a video evaluation was decisive. The Madushka-Mendis stand was price 268 runs and Madushka hit 22 boundaries and one six in his almost eight-hour vigil.
“I always look to play risk-free cricket. That helps me get the double century,” Madushka stated.
“I scored 1,000 runs in the last domestic season and also a double century and a century against England Lions early this year to earn this place in the national side. I am happy I got to bat at the top.”
The Irish ought to have had a 3rd wicket quickly after however James McCollum dropped Mathews at midwicket off Graham Hume. Mathews, dropped on 1, made the Irish pay a giant value.
While Madushka performed a composed innings, Mendis batted ruthlessly, hitting 11 sixes, one wanting the world file by Pakistan nice Wasim Akram towards Zimbabwe, and 17 fours.
Mendis surpassed the earlier highest variety of sixes by a Sri Lankan — Kumar Sangakkara’s eight towards Bangladesh in 2014 — and was out at lengthy off going for a twelfth six.
Matthew Humphreys accomplished the catch on the second try and Mendis was gone for 245.
Mendis stitched 133 runs for the third wicket with Mathews, who was blissful to proceed piling up fast runs.
Chandimal was batting on 13 when he injured his proper shoulder following a tough touchdown whereas diving to the crease. He was taken to hospital for an X-ray.
This is the primary time 4 Sri Lanka batters scored centuries in the identical innings, and solely the third time in take a look at historical past after India and Pakistan. Beside Madushka, Mendis, and Mathews, skipper Dimuth Karunaratne made 115 on day three.
The Irish bowlers have been made to toil on an unresponsive pitch the place Graham Hume (1-87), Andy McBrine (1-191), and Curtis Campher (1-101) shared the wickets.
Stand-in Ireland coach Garry Wilson stated they consider they’ll nonetheless save the take a look at.
“In the first innings here, and even in Dhaka against Bangladesh, we have shown the application and the skill levels required to bat a longer period of time,” Wilson stated. “Hopefully, we can bat deep tomorrow.”
