Prabath Jayasuriya spins Sri Lanka to thumping win over Ireland in 1st Test

By Sabyasachi ChowdhurySri Lanka dominated Ireland throughout the Galle Test and won the match by an innings and 280 runs. The hosts also took a 1-0 lead in the two-match series.

The Sri Lankans were in the driver’s seat as Ireland were trailing by 484 runs at Stumps on Day 2 with three wickets left in their first innings. On the third day, the home team fired carried on from where they left off and eased past their opponents without having to break a sweat.

Jayasuriya, who already picked up a five-wicket haul on Day 2, finished with figures of 23-10-52-7 as Ireland were bowled out for 143 in their first innings. With the visitors trailing by 448 runs, Sri Lanka enforced the follow-on.

Ireland found themselves in all sorts of trouble after being reduced to 40 for the loss of five wickets in 15.1 overs. Harry Tector and Curtis Campher put on 60 runs for the sixth wicket, but all the partnership did was defy the inevitable.

Tector was impressive as he scored 42 runs off 95 balls with four fours. Campher, George Dockrell and Mark Adair scored 30, 32 and 23 respectively as Ireland were shot out for 168 in 54.1 overs.

After his seven-wicket haul in the first innings, Jayasuriya picked up three wickets to finish with a 10-fer in the match. Ramesh Mendis was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka in their second innings as he had figures of 20-1-76-4.

Vishwa Fernando took two wickets in the first innings and he got as many in the second. Fast bowler Asitha Fernando went wicket-less.

The second and final Test of the series is scheduled to get underway on Monday, April 24 at the same venue in Galle.