Dinesh Chandimal’s counterattacking half-century (60* from 99 balls) and his unbeaten 100-run partnership with Dimuth Karunaratne (40* from 90 balls) helped Sri Lanka recover on the opening morning of the second Test against New Zealand in Galle.
After choosing to bet, the hosts reached 102/1 in 32 overs, despite a brief rain interruption. Unlike the pitch for the first test at the same venue, this surface appeared much drier from the start, allowing New Zealand’s spinners to find a turn early in the game.
Dinesh Chandimal strikes a gritty century in the second Test against New Zealand 👏 #WTC25 | 📝 #SLvNZ: https://t.co/XLVfOANfzM pic.twitter.com/BAea1BWQvl
— ICC (@ICC) September 26, 2024
The only wicket to fall was that of Pathum Nissanka, who was dismissed early by Tim Southee, edging to the wicketkeeper. Some swing was available initially, and Karunaratne had a few moments of fortune. Daryl Mitchell dropped him at first slip and later survived a missed stumping by Tom Blundell after advancing down the track to Ajaz Patel. If New Zealand had capitalized on those chances, they could have exerted significant pressure on the Sri Lanka Batters,
However, the partnership between Dinesh Chandimal And Karunaratne flourished, with Dinesh Chandimal Taking on the more aggressive role. Although he had some risky moments, including a few mistimed shots and near misses, his proactive approach unsettled Patel, Who struggled to maintain a consistent line despite assistance from the pitch. The surface has already begun to offer grip and variable bounce, and New Zealand’s bowlers could pose greater challenges if they maintain discipline.
Brief scores: Sri Lanka 102/1 (Dinesh Chandimal 60*, Dimuth Karunaratne 40*, Tim Southee 1-30) vs New Zealand.