New Zealand’s batters showcased their prowess on Day 2 of the first Test in Galle. The tourists, who have ended Day 1 scoring just 50 runs were closing in on Sri Lanka’s first-innings total of 305 on the second day. In the morning session, William O’Rourke added two more wickets to his overnight haul, and he finished with impressive figures of 5 for 55.
Tom Latham and Kane Williamson shone with the bat, both scoring fifties, while Rachin Ravindra contributed an aggressive cameo off a 48-ball 39-run knock, including four boundaries. By the end of the final session, which ended early due to bad light, Daryl Mitchell and Tom Blundell had stitched an unbeaten 59-run partnership off 105 balls. Their partnership marked the fourth 50-plus stand of the innings. The morning session was disrupted due to rain which saw only 15 minutes of play. Despite this setback, New Zealand managed to capitalize on their opportunities, taking the remaining three wickets of Sri Lanka to dismiss them for 305 runs.
Sri Lankan bowlers struggled to maintain pressure throughout the second day. The spin trio Prabath Jayasuriya, Ramesh Mendis, and Kamindu Mendis found it difficult to take advantage of the turning surface. Jayasuriya struggled through 31 overs for figures of 99 for 1, while Ramesh Mendis finished with 1 for 69 in 17 overs. Kamindu, on the other hand, bowled just one over and conceded eight runs.
Latham and Williamson set the tone early, with the former scoring 70 off 111 balls, with the help of six boundaries. Earlier, he alongside Devon Conway formed a 63-run opening partnership before the latter fell to a well-pitched delivery from Ramesh. At this stage, Williamson came in and matched Latham’s intensity, scoring briskly.
Latham and Williamson’s partnership lasted 120 balls and was ultimately broken when the former, attempting to sweep, top-edged a delivery from Jayasuriya to backward square leg. Williamson continued to push the scoring rate and also formed a 51-run stand with Ravindra. Williamson scored 55 off 104 deliveries, before being dismissed by Dhananjaya de Silva. Mitchell and Blundell then steadied the BlackCaps’ innings, as they reached 255/4 on Day 2 stumps.
