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Follow UsWith less than an hour to go on Day 2, Sri Lanka declared their innings with Kamindu Mendis on 182* in order to give themselves more time to take 20 New Zealand wickets and win the Test.
Well, after what has unfolded on the first session of the third day, you bet Dhananjaya de Silva, in hindsight, wishes that he just let Kamindu bat and get to his double ton.
Resuming overnight on 22/2, the Kiwis suffered an embarrassing collapse, losing their last eight wickets for just 66 runs.
They got rolled over for 88, their fifth-lowest score in Asia and their lowest-ever total against Sri Lanka in Tests. It’s the first time the Blackcaps have got bowled out under 100 against Sri Lanka in Tests.
Lowest total for New Zealand against Sri Lanka in Tests
88 all-out in Galle in 2024
102 all-out in Colombo in 1992
109 all-out in Napier in 1995
114 all-out in Galle in 1998
Lowest total for New Zealand in Asia
62 all-out vs India in Mumbai, 2021
70 all-out vs Pakistan in Dhaka, 1955
73 all-out vs Pakistan in Lahore, 2002
79 all-out vs Pakistan in Rawalpindi, 1965
88 all-out vs Sri Lanka in Galle, 2024
By getting bowled out for 88, New Zealand ended up conceding a 514-run lead. It’s only the seventh time in history and the first time in 18 years that a team have conceded a 500+ run lead in the first innings.
Biggest innings lead after the end of 1st innings in Tests
702 – England vs Australia, The Oval, 1938
587 - Sri Lanka vs South Africa, Colombo (SSC), 2006
570 – Pakistan vs New Zealand, Lahore, 2002
563 – West Indies vs England, Jamaica, 1930
514 – Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, Galle, 2024
509 - South Africa vs England, Lord's, 2003
504 – England vs Australia, Brisbane, 1946
Plus, only for the second time in history, a team has got bowled out under 100 after bowling first and conceding 600.
The first and only team to achieve this unwanted feat? New Zealand.
Instances of a team getting bowled out under 100 after conceding 600 in Tests
PAK - 643 all out | NZ - 73 all-out, Lahore, 2002
SL - 602/5d | NZ - 88 all-out, Galle, 2024
On the day, New Zealand’s downfall was expectedly brought about by the left-arm spin of Prabath Jayasuriya, who picked his NINTH 5-fer in Tests in just 16 games.
Jayasuriya is now only behind Vaas, Herath, and Muralitharan in terms of five-fers for Sri Lanka.
Most five-wicket haul in Tests for Sri Lanka
67 - Muttiah Muralitharan
34 - Rangana Herath
12 - Chaminda Vaas
9 - Prabath Jayasuriya*
Plus, in history, only one other spinner has taken more five-fers in their first 16 Tests. And mind you, in the second innings, Jayasuriya has the opportunity to equal this feat.
Most 5-wicket hauls for a spinner in first 16 Tests
10 - Clarrie Grimmett
9 - Prabath Jayasuriya*
9 - Ravichandran Ashwin
8 - Subhash Gupte
As it stands, 68 of Jayasuriya’s 94 Test wickets have now come in Galle. Only two other bowlers, Muralitharan and Herath, have taken more wickets at the venue.
Most wickets in Galle in Tests
111 - Muttiah Muralitharan
102 - Rangana Herath
68 - Prabath Jayasuriya
In the first innings, Jayasuriya had a huge helping hand from skipper de Silva, who took five catches. By doing so, de Silva became only the second Sri Lankan in history to take 5+ catches in an innings as a non-wicketkeeper.
Instances of a SL fielder taking 5+ catches in an innings in Tests
5 - Lahiru Thirimanne vs ENG, Galle, 2021
5* - Dhanajaya de Silva vs NZ, Galle, 2024
*Among non-keepers
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