Thrilling Triumph Looms: Sri Lanka Just Five Wickets from Series Victory After Dominant Day Three Against New Zealand

GALLE: Sri Lanka Nears Victory Over New Zealand Despite Resistance

Sri Lanka was on the verge of a decisive second Test and series victory against New Zealand, with the visitors at 199-5 at stumps on the third day in Galle. Forced to follow on after collapsing to 88 all out in their first innings, New Zealand faces a daunting task to avoid defeat.

At the close of play, Tom Blundell remained unbeaten on 47 alongside Glenn Phillips on 32. Play was halted early due to bad light, with debutant off-spinner Nishan Peiris claiming three crucial top-order wickets.

New Zealand showed some resistance with Devon Conway and former skipper Kane Williamson forging a gritty 97-run partnership for the second wicket. Conway scored a determined 61 off 62 balls before being caught spectacularly by Dinesh Chandimal off De Silva, while Williamson misjudged a shot off Peiris to be caught by Ramesh Mendis at long-on.

The struggle continued as Tom Latham fell for a duck, caught by Pathum Nissanka off Peiris. Earlier, Sri Lanka declared their first innings at a commanding 602-5, and spinner Prabath Jayasuriya dismantled New Zealand with figures of 6-42, marking his ninth five-wicket haul.

Jayasuriya is poised to equal the record for the fastest bowler to 100 Test wickets, a feat achieved in 1896 by England’s George Lohmann in his 16th Test.

In New Zealand’s first innings, resuming at a shaky 22-2, the batsmen offered little resistance. Their top partnership was a mere 20 runs by last pair Mitchell Santner, who top-scored with 29, and William O’Rourke, who added two.

Captain De Silva’s five catches at first slip tied the record for most catches in a Test innings by a non-wicketkeeper, sharing this milestone with 15 others.

Agencies

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