The first Test match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle International Stadium was a close affair ending right on the last day. Finally, Sri Lanka had a victory and it came out successful in the match by 63 runs. It was a clear sign of the government of Sri Lanka’s determination in their regard as well as about several factors that directly led to their victory. In this article, you are to find out three grounds why Sri Lanka was able to pull of a upset against the Kiwi and emerge victorious.
Spin Trio’s Masterclass
Dhananjaya De Silva, Ramesh Mendis, and Prabath Jayasuriya bowled exceedingly well for their team and were in charge of turning the game around. The three spinners shared 18 wickets in the match, with Embuldeniya bagging five for 68 in the second innings. They rotated and were quite accurate with the ball, this constantly put pressure on the New Zealand batting line up and restricted their ability to score at will. The turn and bounce retrieved by the spinners from the pitch of Galle was a key factor in the victory of the Sri Lanka.
Wicket Keeper’s Heroics
Kusal Mendis riveting performance behind the wickets was another important influence in the victory. The wicket-keeper with a lot of experience was extremely useful in the New Zealand team as he effected five catches and a stumping on one of the batsmen. Again, his performance in the field particularly with the wickets proved more than just run saving but morale boosting to their own attack in Sri Lanka. In particular, Mendis performance was all the more impressive.
Middle Order Stabilizers
Kamindu Mendis, opener Kusal Mendis and Angelo Mathews were some of the middle order batsmen in Sri Lankan squad who were essential to earn the victory for the team. Both four and five continued to build partnerships of 114, 50 and 50 respectively that reduced New Zealand’s chance of a victory. Kamindu Mendis hold a patient innings of 114 enabled Sri Lanka to post a competitive score and Dhananjaya de Silva as a gritty partner at the other end. These batsmen ensured a stable platform for the bowlers to come and take the Sri Lanka side home to victory.
In conclusion, the exciting victory of Sri Lanka over New Zealand was due to several right factors correlated.In particular, spin trio contributed through a masterclass show, wicket-keeper provided wonderful support through exemplary wicket-keeping, and middle order played the role of stabilizers to help the team come out of tough situations.ng display, and the middle-order stabilizers’ crucial contributions all played important roles in setting up the win. The victory was therefore attributed to determination and resile ce of Sri Lanka as well as flexibility as condition and situations prevailed. Sri Lanka will look forward to the next Test match with more or less the same spirit which will make sure that they do not let their presence go waste in the international arena.
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