2024-09-22 23:37:26
The first Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand took place on the fifth day. Srilanka need just 2 wickets to win on the final day on Monday (September 23). And New Zealand need 68 runs.
Apparently, Sri Lanka is ahead, but Rachin Ravindra continues to be the dreamer of the Kiwis. He is unbeaten on 91 runs from 158 balls with 9 fours and 1 six. Ajaj Patel is unbeaten in 15 balls with him without scoring any runs.
Sri Lanka ended the third day with 237 runs for the loss of 4 wickets. Angelo Mathews was unbeaten on 34 and Dhananjaya De Silva at par. On the fourth day today, Dhananjaya got out when the team’s total reached 250. He scored 40 runs with 4 fours.
Kusal Mendis and Mathews then took the team’s total to 286. Kusal returned to this run scoring 23 runs in 3 fours. After 292 runs, Mathews was dismissed with 54 for 50. Then Ramesh Mendis (1) and Lahiru Kumara (0) were out for 301 runs. Prabhath Jayasuriya (11) returned as the last batsman after 309 runs. Sri Lanka lead by 274 runs. New Zealand face a target of 275 to win.
Ajaj Patel of New Zealand took 6 wickets with 90 runs with 8 maidens in 30 overs. This is the fifth five-wicket haul of his Test career. He took 2 wickets for 60 runs in the first innings. William O’Rourke took 3 wickets with 49 runs in 17 overs with 2 maidens. Mitchell Santner took the other wicket.
Chasing the target, New Zealand lost the first wicket by 6 runs. Devon Conway (4) gets back to bowled by Asitha Fernando. Then Kane Williamson and Tom Latham went on to 51 runs. Williamson returns with 30 runs in this run. He got out with a catch behind the wicket off Prabhat. Latham was also dismissed for 68 runs. He scored 28 runs and was lbw to Dhananjaya.
The visitors lost their fourth wicket before reaching 100 in the team’s total. Daryl Mitchell is now out. Bowled by Ramesh Mendis for personal 8 runs. From there, Rachin and Tom Blundell put on a 56-run stand that gave glimpses of things to come. But as the team reached 152, Blundell was bowled by Prabhat. He scored 30 runs in 4 fours.
The Black Caps camp began to dream when Glenn Phillips joined Rachin. But when the team’s run was 171, he returned with a catch behind the wicket of Prabhath’s ball for 4 personal runs.
Mitchell Santner came and accompanied Rachin. The party collection goes up to 197. Ramesh’s second victim of this run, when Santner returned, Rachin was left alone again. Ramesh dismissed the new batsman Tim Southee after 203 runs. That increases Sri Lanka’s chances. But Rachin is a thorn in their way of victory. If he can be returned on the last morning, the task will be easy for the Lankans. Otherwise the remaining two batsmen will have to be returned.
Now it remains to be seen whether Sri Lanka win on a thrilling fifth day, or if the one-man army of Rachin Ravindra snatches their prey.