Day 3 of the second Test saw New Zealand bowled out for 88 runs in 39.5 overs, ending their hopes of squaring the Test series against Sri Lanka on Saturday, September 28. The opening session at the Galle International Stadium saw the Kiwis resume play at 22/2, but they only managed to score 66 runs before falling victim to the hosts’ unrelenting attack.
The visitors were under tremendous strain after Sri Lanka established the tone with a commanding 602/5 declared. After losing the opening Test by 63 runs, the Tim Southee-led team was unable to get runs off the Lankan bowlers and was now down 0-1 in the series.
When Devon Conway and Tom Latham, two key batsmen, fell on Day 2, it was a blow; but Day 3 was no better as Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, and Kane Williamson, for their part, did not contribute much either. There was no resilience in the New Zealand batting line as every batsman reached the crease but none put up a substantial score.
The Kiwis who struggled to get off the blocks during the course of the game, in another case managed to score a dismal 88 runs. After the onslaught that their bowling attack unleashed on New Zealand, Sri Lanka was ahead in the series. With the chances of levelling the series appearing minimal, New Zealand will have to come back to the drawing board, for the remaining matches cannot be played as this one.
Several netizens heaped praises on Sri Lanka’s ruthless bowling attack after the New Zealand side crumbled so badly. Prabath Jayasuriya won the Man of the Match award with an astonishing six-wicket haul, while Nishan Peiris on debut took a fine three wickets in his first match.
Cricket fans showered Twitter with praise for the Sri Lankan bowlers, praising their accuracy and talent. Fans were in awe of Jayasuriya’s career-best numbers and Peiris’s spectacular debut.
Fans’ excitement has been spurred by the Sri Lankan team’s strong performance, which has solidified their place in the series. The difficulties faced by the Kiwis have sparked worries and demands for change.
Here’s How Twitter Reacts to the Sri Lanka Performance:
"Sri Lanka cricket's good days have finally arrived after many years." best COMEBACKS pic.twitter.com/XP2Ye24EHt
— bhaskar kalita (@Bhaskarkalita77) September 28, 2024
This is what a home side can do in test cricket.
A complete dominance by the Sri Lanka.
Hope so Pakistan ll learn something from here #SLvNZ pic.twitter.com/LWgPfHDNYW— Muzammal Hassan (@muzammaldgr) September 28, 2024
NZ are in big trouble 🤯🤯🤯…!!!!!
66 for 8 wkts, Jayasuriya take 5 Wkts hall, incredible performance from Sri Lanka side 🫡🫡🫡..!!!
Credit goes to #SanathJayasuriya legend 🇱🇰🇱🇰#SLvsNZ #INDvBAN #PakistanCricket #AusvsEng pic.twitter.com/0zUsupv2je
— Crickclouds 🏏 (@Crickclouds) September 28, 2024
Sri Lanka closing in on an emphatic 2-0 series win over the Kiwis. A reminder that Pakistan actually won 2-0 in the last series in Sri Lanka before this one. So not as bad a Test team as is being made out.#Cricket #WTC25 #SLvsNZ #Pakistan #PakvsEng #SriLanka #Multan #TestCricket
— Abdullah Haider (@wicketsandruns) September 28, 2024
#NZvSL 🇳🇿 🇱🇰 #NewZealand #SriLanka #Cricket
Ravindra's resistance ends as Nishan Peiris gets his third wicket. Ravindra played a beautiful FOUR earlier in the over, driving a full delivery wide of the bowler. However, Peiris came back strong, eventually getting Ravindra bowled… pic.twitter.com/n20RLVJ1aj— The Cricket Stories (@thecricstories) September 28, 2024
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