On day two in Galle, New Zealand made significant strides in their first innings, with partnerships propelling them close to Sri Lanka’s total of 305. By stumps, New Zealand was 255 for 4, trailing by 50 runs. Tom Latham and Kane Williamson both scored fifties, with Latham hitting 70 and Williamson 55. Their efforts, along with contributions from Rachin Ravindra and an unbeaten stand of 59 between Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell, positioned New Zealand favorably.
Despite a rain-affected morning session that saw only 15 minutes of play, New Zealand wrapped up Sri Lanka’s innings at 305. William O’Rourke, who had already taken three wickets on the first day, completed his five-for as Sri Lanka added just three runs to their overnight total.
In response, New Zealand’s batsmen demonstrated resilience and skill, particularly through Latham and Williamson. Latham’s 70 off 111 balls featured effective use of the sweep shot, while Williamson added 55 with an aggressive start. Their partnership of 73 was broken when Latham, playing a sweep shot, was caught at backward square leg by Prabath Jayasuriya just before tea.
Sri Lanka’s bowlers struggled to maintain consistent pressure, with spinners Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, and Kamindu Mendis unable to exert much influence. Jayasuriya, in particular, had a challenging day, finishing with 99 runs from 31 overs. Mendis’s 17 overs cost 69 runs, and Mendis bowled just one over for eight runs.
Ravindra’s aggressive 39 off 48 balls helped New Zealand build on their position before he was dismissed by an arm ball from Dhananjaya de Silva. Williamson was also dismissed soon after, caught by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis off a leading edge. Despite these wickets, Mitchell and Blundell managed to see out the day without further loss, navigating a barrage of short balls from Asitha Fernando.
Overall, New Zealand’s innings was characterized by solid partnerships and effective batting strategies, contrasting with Sri Lanka’s inability to capitalize on early breakthroughs. The day ended with New Zealand well-placed to potentially overtake Sri Lanka’s first-innings score.
