Sri Lanka has secured a historic 2-0 series victory over New Zealand, marking their first series win against the Blackcaps since 2009. The second Test, played in Galle, saw Sri Lanka dominate from the outset, ultimately winning by an innings and 154 runs.
Dominant Performance in the Second Test
In the second Test, Sri Lanka chose to bat and amassed a formidable 602/5 declared, with Kamindu Mendis scoring an unbeaten 182 off 250 balls. This set the stage for a crushing victory, as New Zealand struggled to respond. The visitors were bowled out for just 88 runs in their first innings, with Prabath Jayasuriya taking six wickets for 42 runs.
New Zealand was forced to follow on, trailing by 514 runs. Despite a resilient effort from Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips, who scored half-centuries, the team could not avoid an innings defeat. Debutant Nishan Peiris played a crucial role, taking five wickets in the second innings, including the key dismissals of Blundell and Phillips.
First Test Recap
The first Test, also played in Sri Lanka, saw the hosts win by 63 runs. Sri Lanka batted first, scoring 305 runs, with Kamindu Mendis contributing 114 runs. New Zealand responded with 340 runs, but Sri Lanka's second innings total of 309 runs set a target that New Zealand could not achieve, being bowled out for 211 runs.
Impact on World Test Championship
This series sweep has significant implications for the World Test Championship points table. Sri Lanka earned 12 points from each Test, while New Zealand failed to secure any points from the series. This victory boosts Sri Lanka's standings in the championship, while New Zealand faces a setback in their campaign.
The series win is a testament to Sri Lanka's strong performance, particularly from their spin bowlers. Prabath Jayasuriya and Nishan Peiris were standout performers, with Jayasuriya nearing a historic milestone of becoming one of the fastest to reach 100 Test wickets.
