Sri Lanka completed an emphatic 2-0 Test series whitewash over New Zealand, showcasing their all-around brilliance with bat and ball. The hosts dominated both Tests, and in particular, put on a clinical display in the second match, with Kamindu Mendis, Prabath Jayasuriya and Nishan Peiris delivering standout performances. Fans took to social media to praise Sri Lanka’s commanding performance, hailing the emergence of new stars and a solid all-around effort.

Sri Lanka’s batting fires on all cylinders

Winning the toss and electing to bat first in the second Test, Sri Lanka laid down an imposing foundation with an impressive first-innings score of 602 runs. Kamindu, Kusal Mendis, and Dinesh Chandimal all shone with magnificent centuries, showcasing the depth and resilience in Sri Lanka’s batting lineup. Kamindu continued his dream run, reaching 1000 Test runs in just 13 innings, joining an elite club of cricketers who have reached this milestone so quickly. His consistency at the crease and ability to anchor the innings have made him a key player for Sri Lanka going forward.

The support from Chandimal and Kusal further strengthened Sri Lanka’s position in the game, and the top-order batters ensured that the home side was in complete control right from the beginning. The huge first-innings total put New Zealand under immense pressure, setting the stage for the bowlers to take over.

New Zealand’s collapse under pressure in first innings

In reply, New Zealand’s batting lineup faltered badly, folding for a mere 88 runs in their first innings. The visitors struggled to adapt to the turning track, with Sri Lankan bowlers exploiting every weakness. Jayasuriya was instrumental in dismantling the New Zealand batting order, picking up a five-wicket haul that left the visitors in tatters. His ability to turn the ball and keep the batters guessing was on full display, as he continued to be a vital asset for the Sri Lankan bowling attack.

Nishan also played a key role, complementing Jayasuriya’s efforts with consistent and accurate bowling. His contributions were crucial in ensuring New Zealand had no opportunity to recover from the early setbacks. The Kiwi batters, unable to find answers to Sri Lanka’s spin dominance, succumbed to panic and poor shot selection, which only added to their woes.

Follow-on and improved resistance from New Zealand

With New Zealand’s first-innings collapse, Sri Lanka enforced the follow-on without hesitation. The visitors, however, showed better application in their second innings, determined to put up a fight and avoid an innings defeat. Opener Devon Conway led the resistance with an aggressive approach, scoring valuable runs at the top to help New Zealand put up a more competitive fight.

Despite Conway’s efforts, wickets continued to fall at regular intervals, and it looked like New Zealand might face yet another collapse. However, Glenn Phillips and Tom Blundell displayed grit and patience, forging a vital partnership that offered some hope for the visitors. Rain and bad light forced an early end to play on Day 4, giving New Zealand a brief respite.

When play resumed on Day 5, Mitchell Santner showed resilience with the bat, scoring a fighting half-century that pushed the game into the second session. Santner’s determined innings, along with support from the lower order, gave New Zealand a chance to prolong the match. However, Nishan emerged as the hero for Sri Lanka, claiming six wickets in the second innings to wrap up the New Zealand resistance. Nishan’s impressive performance with the ball highlighted his potential as an emerging star in Sri Lankan cricket, as he consistently troubled the Kiwi batters with his variations and accuracy.

Also WATCH: SL vs NZ – Prabath Jayasuriya’s spin masterclass helps Sri Lanka dominate New Zealand in the second Test

Sri Lanka’s takeaways and New Zealand’s concerns

The series win provided several positives for Sri Lanka, including the emergence of new talents and the depth in both their batting and bowling departments. Kamindu’s stellar form with the bat is a promising sign for Sri Lanka’s future, as he continues to establish himself as a reliable run-scorer. The spin bowling department, led by Jayasuriya and supported by Nishan, proved to be a potent weapon in home conditions, causing significant problems for the New Zealand batters. Jayasuriya’s consistency and Nishan’s rise have given Sri Lanka a formidable spin duo capable of challenging any team, especially on turning tracks.

On the other hand, New Zealand has much to ponder as they prepare for their upcoming three-match Test series in India. Their batting lineup struggled to cope with the spin-friendly conditions in Sri Lanka, and the challenge will only intensify when they face India. The Kiwi batters will need to find ways to improve their technique against quality spin, as their inability to build partnerships and counter the turning ball was evident throughout the series. The team’s management will need to work on addressing these weaknesses quickly if they hope to be competitive in India.

Fans celebrate Sri Lanka’s whitewash victory

Following the 2-0 series win, Sri Lankan fans took to social media to celebrate the team’s dominant performance. Many praised Kamindu for his consistency and ability to perform under pressure, while others highlighted the exceptional performances of Jayasuriya and Nishan, who proved instrumental in securing the series win. The convincing nature of the victory has raised hopes among fans about Sri Lanka’s potential to perform well in upcoming challenges.

Meanwhile, New Zealand supporters expressed their concerns over the team’s batting struggles and the need for significant improvements ahead of their next assignment in India. The series highlighted key areas for the Kiwis to work on, particularly their ability to handle spin in challenging conditions.

Here is how fans reacted:

A thumping win for Sri Lanka in Galle 💪#WTC25 | #SLvNZ 📝: https://t.co/MBQXWEOCeW pic.twitter.com/Uo6TmIdocc

— ICC (@ICC) September 29, 2024

Kamindu Mendis – becoming of greatness

— Kumar Sangakkara (@KumarSanga2) September 27, 2024

Sri Lanka team in the third spot in World Test Championship with 55.56% after their historical win over New Zealand in the 2nd Test in Galle today #LKA #SriLanka #SLvNZ pic.twitter.com/OlVZtTu0fG

— Sri Lanka Tweet 🇱🇰 (@SriLankaTweet) September 29, 2024

A victory to the hosts by an innings & 154 runs after lunch on day 4 of the 2nd Test in Galle. They claim the series 2-0. Scoring | https://t.co/95L7AvreDq #SLvNZ 📷 = SLC pic.twitter.com/tcm5cgkMcL

— BLACKCAPS (@BLACKCAPS) September 29, 2024

– Won ODI series vs India after 27 years
– Won a Test match in England after 10 years
– Won Test series vs New Zealand after 15 years

Sanath Jayasuriya as Sri Lanka’s head coach is world class 🇱🇰❤️❤️#SLvNZ #tapmad #DontStopStreaming pic.twitter.com/anrUjAmxRF

— Farid Khan (@_FaridKhan) September 29, 2024

𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗧𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗞 𝗛𝗔𝗦 𝗕𝗘𝗘𝗡 𝗕𝗥𝗢𝗞𝗘𝗡! 👊

Sri Lanka have won their first Test series against New Zealand since 2009. #SLvNZ

– Happy to see the Lions are back. 🦁 pic.twitter.com/HmHIHSbUBj

— Thurunu Jayasiri (@ThurunuJ) September 29, 2024

Kamindu Mendis was adjudged Player of the Match#SLvNZ #Test #KaminduMendis #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/wbyqut0RVl

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) September 29, 2024

Never seen New Zealand played this badly for a long time #SLvNZ #tapmad #DontStopStreaming pic.twitter.com/boNq8OWIeS

— Abdul Ghaffar 🇵🇰 (@GhaffarDawnNews) September 29, 2024

SRILANKA BEATS NEW ZEALAND IN TEST SERIES AFTER 15 YEARS

2009 : Sri Lanka won the test series against New Zealand by 2-0 !!

2024 : Sri Lanka won the test series against New Zealand by 2-0 !! #SLvsNZ#SLvNZ #TestCricket #SrilankaCricket #SLC #KaminduMendis #PrabatbJaysuriya pic.twitter.com/3bkjEZALfN

— Priyanshu Kumar (@priyanshusports) September 29, 2024

Well done champs

Sri Lanka have won a Test series against New Zealand after 15 long years. History is made at Galle 🇱🇰🔥🔥#SLvNZ pic.twitter.com/1E6EMXfFuR

— Tripurari Chaudhary (@TipsChaudhary) September 29, 2024

Also READ: Sri Lanka Cricket announces the schedule for the home white-ball series against the West Indies

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