GALLE (Sri Lanka): A career-best 95 by Andy Balbirnie helped Ireland attain a robust 319 for 4 at stumps on day one of many second Test towards Sri Lanka in Galle on Monday.
In a robust comeback after a heavy innings defeat within the first Test, on the shut of play Ireland’s Lorcan Tucker was unbeaten on 78 and Curtis Campher was not out 27.
Having made three adjustments, Ireland started nervously as Peter Moor departed for 5 and Sri Lanka’s first Test hero Prabath Jayasuriya eliminated James McCollum for 10.
But captain Balbirnie held agency in scorching and humid circumstances, grinding out a 115-run partnership with the returning Paul Stirling after Harry Tector fell to Jayasuriya for 18.
It was the best partnership for Ireland of their transient Test historical past — that is solely their sixth match — surpassing a 114-run stand from their inaugural Test in 2018.
Stirling, who had missed the primary Test, exhibited his expertise punishing free balls as he reached his maiden half-century in Test cricket off 64 balls.
But his promising knock was reduce brief when he needed to retire harm with cramps. His 74 got here off 133 balls with six fours and three sixes.
Balbirnie, in the meantime, raced to his third half-century off simply 43 balls with 10 boundaries however was sedate after the milestone as he constructed the essential partnership with Stirling.
Balbirnie missed out on the possibility to grow to be solely the third Irishman to attain a Test century, caught after a wild paddle sweep off Kusal Mendis for 95, beating his earlier better of 82.
Tucker was then caught bat-pad by Mendis off Jayasuriya however the attraction was turned down and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne selected to not overview.
This is now Ireland’s second-highest complete in Test cricket behind the 339 all out towards Pakistan in 2018.
Ireland are but to win a sport within the five-day format since acquiring Test standing in 2017, dropping all 5 of their outings thus far together with to Bangladesh in early April.
In a robust comeback after a heavy innings defeat within the first Test, on the shut of play Ireland’s Lorcan Tucker was unbeaten on 78 and Curtis Campher was not out 27.
Having made three adjustments, Ireland started nervously as Peter Moor departed for 5 and Sri Lanka’s first Test hero Prabath Jayasuriya eliminated James McCollum for 10.
But captain Balbirnie held agency in scorching and humid circumstances, grinding out a 115-run partnership with the returning Paul Stirling after Harry Tector fell to Jayasuriya for 18.
It was the best partnership for Ireland of their transient Test historical past — that is solely their sixth match — surpassing a 114-run stand from their inaugural Test in 2018.
Stirling, who had missed the primary Test, exhibited his expertise punishing free balls as he reached his maiden half-century in Test cricket off 64 balls.
But his promising knock was reduce brief when he needed to retire harm with cramps. His 74 got here off 133 balls with six fours and three sixes.
Balbirnie, in the meantime, raced to his third half-century off simply 43 balls with 10 boundaries however was sedate after the milestone as he constructed the essential partnership with Stirling.
Balbirnie missed out on the possibility to grow to be solely the third Irishman to attain a Test century, caught after a wild paddle sweep off Kusal Mendis for 95, beating his earlier better of 82.
Tucker was then caught bat-pad by Mendis off Jayasuriya however the attraction was turned down and skipper Dimuth Karunaratne selected to not overview.
This is now Ireland’s second-highest complete in Test cricket behind the 339 all out towards Pakistan in 2018.
Ireland are but to win a sport within the five-day format since acquiring Test standing in 2017, dropping all 5 of their outings thus far together with to Bangladesh in early April.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com