Sri Lanka vs Ireland, 2nd Test at Galle, SL v IRE, Apr 24 2023 - Match Result

All smiles in the Sri Lanka camp as Karunaratne collects the trophy. He poses for the camera before the team gets together for a group picture. It's been fun bringing the series to you. Hope you enjoyed our coverage. Till the next time, this is me, Ashish Pant, signing off on behalf of Aaditya, Binoy and Vairavan. Ciao!

And, finally the Sri Lanka captain, Dimuth Karunaratne: It was a very different wicket from the first one. The way the bowlers bowled, it was really amazing. The fast bowler, spinners and Ramesh came back very well. This kind of cricket is what I am expecting from the boys. If they can get 500, of course, we can cross that. We wanted to get a good start, and we got that. Runs matter for the batters, it will boost the confidence. The batters did well. Everyone did their job. We knew it could rain anytime, so I asked the bowlers to put in a good session and the bowlers put their hands up. The way Asitha bowled was really amazing. If we want to win away series, this is the kind of bowling we need. Ramesh could not do well in the first innings, but he bounced back well. He will do well in the Pakistan series as well.

Here's Andy Balbirnie, the Ireland captain:Feels fine, it was a good spell of bowling and Harry played very well. We have to take the positives. To take it to day five was excellent. We know how good a team Sri Lanka is. We need to make improvements. It is not easy, we don't play a lot of red-ball cricket. We have to do things better. We will learn a lot in these two weeks. Our next Test is against England. Very fortunate to play here, and it is a great venue.

Kusal Mendis is the Player of the Series: [This is a summary] However good the surface was, it was challenging. He says he was trying to be aggressive and he did not know about the six-hitting record.

Prabath Jayasuriya is the Player of the Match: This is a very different wicket when compared to the first game, was a batting-friendly wicket. We were trying to do the basics right. These kinds of wickets, patience is very important. We were trying to be patient. The shoulder is fine.

Presentation time

Here's Ramesh Mendis: I am really happy with my performance and the team's performance. I bowled my consistent line and length. I love bowling in Galle. I am really happy. Proud moment for us and really happy with the overall performance.

2.40pm Sri Lanka register a comfortable win in the end, and take the two-match series 2-0. But, they have been made to fight. In the end, it was Ramesh Mendis' five-wicket haul that proved to be the difference as Ireland were bowled out for 202. Not a lot on the surface for the bowler. Ireland started the day two down and they were met with a hostile spell for bowling from Asitha Fernando. He peppered the batter with short balls aplenty, also forcing Andy Balbirnie to retire hurt. The Irish captain did come back and scored a crucial 46. However, the star of Ireland's batting was Harry Tector, who was superb during his 189-ball 85. He negated the turn, kept out the bouncers and in between played some delightful shots. His innings was laced with eight fours and three sixes. At one point he was chasing his century, before a corker of a yorker from Asitha pegged back his leg stump. It did not take Sri Lanka long to wrap up the Test after that.

Dan: "Only the 2nd time I've ever had a comment published, and it ended up being a commentator's curse... best believe my head is banging against my desk right now" Mate, there are a number of comments for you on the feedback, at the moment

Chris Drew: "Can someone remove Dan's Keyboard of Doom before the next Ireland Test, please."

Patrick: "Congratulations Sri Lanka!!! What a way to celebrate the 100th test win with a record breaking innings win after Ireland's 1st innings 492."

Yousuf: "Is Ireland's 492 the highest first innings score which resulted in an innings defeat?" Yes, it is.

Ben White is the last man in

Tector pulls out as the bowler runs in. Karunaratne isn't pleased. Tector says, 'I have swing dripping into my eye, mate'

Dan: "You never know! They might save the match! Go Tector!"

Dan: "You never know! They might save the match! Go Trector!"

James Joyce: "Let there be fight? And there was."

And now the field comes in. Square leg stays back, though. Double bluff?

Field comes in with two balls in. Oh, scratch that, they are back again to the fence.

Jamie Dow: "Wonderful to see such fight from Ireland. They're not going to save the match. But what a difference between losing by x wickets and losing by an innings and n runs! It's also worth remembering that most visiting sides lose in Sri Lanka."

The field closes in again