A report Irish stand of 115 between skipper Andy Balbirnie and Paul Stirling powered Ireland to an imposing 319 for 4 at Stumps on day one of many second Test towards Sri Lanka on Monday.
The batters have been largely untroubled by Sri Lankan bowlers on a flat observe and piled up runs — it’s already Ireland’s second-highest Test rating — leaving the host below strain because it appears for its a centesimal Test win.
The partnership was threatening to develop and each batters have been en path to their maiden centuries earlier than Stirling was helped off the sphere following a cramp. He was unbeaten on 74 with three sixes and 6 boundaries earlier than he stumbled to the bottom within the third over after Tea, holding his proper leg.
Ireland took Lunch at 106 for 3 and added 93 runs throughout the second session to interrupt for Tea at 199 for 3.
Balbirnie anchored the innings masterfully below scorching and humid situations for over four-and-a-half hours and fell simply 5 runs in need of a maiden ton. Looking for a paddle sweep off Ramesh Mendis, the ball took a nick on the again of the bat with Dhananjaya de Silva at slip grabbing a easy likelihood.
The Irish skipper reached his third half-century off 43 balls, hitting 10 boundaries. He added solely 4 extra earlier than taking the stroll to the pavilion.
Lorcan Tucker survived on 36, remained unbeaten on 78 with Curtis Campher on 27 at Stumps. Tucker obtained an inside edge to the pad earlier than a diving Nishan Madushka collected it cleanly however was dominated not out. Sri Lanka didn’t enchantment though the tv replays confirmed a transparent inside edge.
After successful the toss and electing to bat first, Ireland had an early setback within the fourth over when opener Peter Moor was trapped lbw for 5 by tempo bowler Asitha Fernando. Despite an enormous enchantment by the Sri Lankans, it was turned down by the on-field umpire earlier than the host efficiently challenged the choice.
Spinner Prabath Jayasuriya then had James McCollum caught by wicket-keeper Sadeera Samarawickrama to go away the customer reeling at 43 for 2.
Harry Tector scored 18 and seemed assured earlier than freely giving his wicket to Jayasuriya, caught at mid-on by a leaping Dinesh Chandimal simply minutes earlier than the lunch break. Tector had shared 46 runs for the third wicket with Balbirnie.
The Balbirnie-Stirling partnership topped the earlier better of 114 by Kevin O’Brien and Stuart Thompson towards Pakistan in 2018, when Ireland had its highest Test rating of 339 all out.
Ireland made three modifications to its beginning lineup after a heavy defeat within the series-opening Test final week.
Stirling was flown in for the match to bat within the high order, and left-arm spinner Matthew Humphreys was picked to make his Test debut on the expense of George Dockrell. Mark Adair was changed by right-arm paceman Graham Hume.
Sri Lanka retained the identical lineup that beat the Irish by an innings and 280 runs within the first Test.
The Sri Lankans are chasing one other victory in Galle to achieve a milestone of 100 take a look at wins. The residence crew’s report up to now is 99 wins, 92 attracts and 119 losses.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com