Sri Lanka hammer New Zealand by innings and 154 runs in 2nd Test: Kamindu Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya Deliver Shining Performance
Sri Lanka thumps New Zealand convincingly in the second Test as the batting unit steps forward strongly while bowling well to avenge the 95-run defeat from the previous test and win the series.
Introduction: Dominant display by Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka crushes New Zealand by 154 runs in the all-important second Test of the New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka 2024. Hosts blitz with brilliant all-around performance with bat and ball, as the hosts’ batsmen went on to score lots of runs while the bowlers sent the New Zealand batting pack packing for a meagre score twice on the trot. First, though, to Kamindu Mendis, with his majestic unbeaten 182 and Prabath Jayasuriya, who bowled excellently to help Sri Lanka win. Pressure throughout the games kept on the New Zealand team, losing the series to Sri Lanka.
The First Innings of Sri Lanka: Kamindu Mendis Remains the Leading Figure
Sri Lanka batted out towards the sheer domination as they declared their innings at 602/5 after 163.4 overs. Such a huge total was laid down due to huge contributions by almost all the top-order batsmen.
Playing first, Pathum Nissanka, was dismissed as a mute bystander as early as on the second ball of the innings when Tim Southee struck. The pressure of that early wicket didn’t faze Sri Lanka off however, for the partnership between Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal that steadied the innings and eventually balanced the game is quite valuable. The skipper Karunaratne got run out with 46 while Chandimal – who waited for his due long enough – made a rock-solid 116 off 208 balls, including 15 boundaries.
Kamindu Mendis was the actual highlight of the Sri Lankan innings as he hit an impeccable unbeaten knock of 182 off 250 deliveries. Mendis’s innings was a combination of patience and aggression, as he anchored the middle-order. Alongside him, Kusal Mendis also scored a century as he notched 106* off 149 deliveries and added to the team’s massively huge total.
Despite the best efforts by New Zealand, a break-through was missing for the bowlers at some crucial moments, and only Glenn Phillips picked up success with 3 wickets for 141 runs while Southee and William O’Rourke managed only one wicket each. On the other hand, the free flow of Sri Lankan batsmen could not be curbed by the Kiwi bowlers as they declared at an incredible 602/5.
New Zealand First Innings: Collapse Under Pressure
New Zealand responded to the giant total that Sri Lanka had put up with a disastrous first innings, especially after they collapsed to a lowly 88 runs in 39.5 overs. The visitors could not get going against a very disciplined bowling attack from Sri Lanka led by Prabath Jayasuriya and Nishan Peiris.
New Zealand was off to the poorest start in this innings when Tom Latham got dismissed while scoring 2 runs off Asitha Fernando’s first ball. The wickets continued to fall at an interval and the Kiwis failed to establish any rhythm to their innings. Devon Conway was the top scorer with 21 runs but his dismissal off Jayasuriya set off a sharp collapse. Williamson was again sent back early for 7 runs and the tail of the batting lineup gave in under the pressure put by Sri Lanka.
Prabath Jayasuriya was the star with the ball, picking 6 for 42. His perfect control and consistency was too much to handle for the New Zealand batsmen. Nishan Peiris was very supportive, ending with 3 for 33, while Asitha Fernando taking one wicket was decent support to bowl out New Zealand for 88 runs, enforcing the follow-on.
New Zealand’s Second Innings: Brave resistance but that was not enough
Coming out to bat after falling behind by a mammoth margin, New Zealand tried to keep itself from suffering an innings loss. There was better resistance in the second innings, but as of now, it just hadn’t proven to be enough as New Zealand has scored 360.
Opener Tom Latham once again fell for a duck, this time going to Nishan Peiris’s account, who gave his team an ideal start by sending the opener out for duck on the very first ball of the innings. Devon Conway played a resilient knock of 61 runs off 62 balls. However, he ran alone on the park and didn’t get much support from Kane Williamson, who added 46 runs but was dismissed before converting their start into big scores.
Tom Blundell shone bright in the second innings with a score of 60 off 64 balls. That brought bit of respectability to the scoreline with Glenn Phillips very solid scoring 78 off 99 balls. Phillips and Blundell put on a super partnership that helped New Zealand recover from 121/5 to 216/6.
NZ’s tail did not have much of a success story against the onslaughts of Lanka on day four with individual brilliance being put on display by Prabath Jayasuriya, who was at the helm of affairs in a follow on, taking along another three wickets in the second innings as well. Nishan Peiris from the other end was equally effective as he pocketed six wickets in the second innings, in addition to those of Conway, Williamson, and Phillips.
New Zealand’s innings ended at 360, thereby handing Sri Lanka a crushing win by an innings and 154 runs.
Player of the Match and Series: Kamindu Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya
It was Kamindu Mendis who, going solo, took the match single-handedly towards a victory of his unbeaten knock of 182 runs to get the Man of the Match award. His innings was so crucial in setting up Sri Lanka’s big score, which then paved the way for them for their final win. What he showed is just marvelous shot selection, patience, and the ability to dominate the bowlers.
The Player of the Series went to Prabath Jayasuriya, who bowled extremely in the series. Jayasuriya took 9 wickets in the game, which sealed the position of one of the best bowling eras in the country. His ability to grab wickets when it mattered most played a crucial role in bringing Sri Lanka victorious in the series.
Conclusion: Sri Lanka emerges victorious by storming the entire series
It was the all-round strength of Sri Lanka that made them script their victory by an innings and 154 runs in the second Test. Not only the batsmen dominated with the bat but the bowlers got exceptional enough to crack open New Zealand’s batting line up. With this win, the series was sealed down for Sri Lanka, which proved Sri Lanka’s superiority at home turf. Kamindu Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya were the stars of the match to take their team to a memorable and emphatic victory.
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