Ireland eye breakthrough Test triumph after strong start against Sri Lanka
Ireland put a first Test thumping behind them with a stirring display on the opening day of the second Test against Sri Lanka that took them to 319/4 and perhaps onto the path toward a breakthrough Test victory.
The visitors had slumped to 89/3 when the ever-threatening Prabath Jayasuriya dismissed Harry Tector (18) for his second wicket of the day, before Ireland skipper Andy Balbirnie and Paul Stirling led the fightback.
The Ireland stalwarts put on an assured 115-run stand before the stifling conditions proved too much for Stirling (74*) and he retired hurt due to cramps.
Balbirnie (95) looked composed and on track to reach his first Test ton until sweeping at a straight delivery that bounced higher than expected and clipped the back of the bat on the way to Dhananjaya de Silva at slip.
Keeper Lorcan Tucker (78*) and all-rounder Curtis Campher (27*) will resume the innings on day two in Galle as Ireland look to build a total that could set up their first-ever Test triumph.
This is Ireland’s sixth Test since making their debut against Pakistan in 2018 but they are yet to snatch a draw let alone secure a win in the five-day format.
A determined Ireland gave Pakistan a scare in the fourth innings of that first Test in Dublin when they set the visitors a 160-run target and had them 14/3 in the fourth innings, until Imam-ul-Haq (74*) and Babar Azam (59) steadied the chase.
Ireland were in an even better position in their first and as-yet only Test against England when skittling their rivals for just 85 as Tim Murtagh took 5/13 on the opening day at Lord’s.
But after Ireland put together 207 runs in their first innings, the hosts bounced back with spinner Jack Leach opening their second innings and reaching 92 to help set a target of 182.
Ireland crumbled against the swing and seamers of England pacers Chris Woakes (6/17) and Stuart Broad (4/19) to be all out for a mere 38 runs.
While Ireland are now in a strong position against Sri Lanka they will be wary of the hosts’ dominant display in the opening Test that included centuries to skipper Dimuth Karunaratne (179), Kusal Mendis (140), Sadeera Samarawickrama (104*) and Dinesh Chandimal (102*) on the way to victory by an innings and 280 runs.
But with a strong start and more focus on a spin bowling attack that will be out to make the most of the conditions later in the contest, Ireland are within their rights to dare to dream.
- Lost to Sri Lanka by an innings and 280 runs in Galle, April 2023
- Lost to Bangladesh by 7 wickets in Mirpur, April 2023
- Lost to England by 143 runs at Lord's, July 2019
- Lost to Afghanistan by 7 wickets in Dehradun, March 2019
- Lost to Pakistan by 5 wickets in Dublin, May 2018