And, that's that! Asitha cleans up White and Sri Lanka win the second Test by an innings and ten runs. Full-length ball tailing into the batter, who gets an inside-edge back onto the stumps. Asitha celebrates, and with that Sri Lanka complete their 100th Test win.
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
Yorker, right on the base of middle stump and Asitha is absolutely pumped up! Tails it in the blockhole, as Tector backs away looking for another wild swing. He misses, the bowler doesn't and his stumps are left in a mess. But, that is one heck of an innings from Tector, who falls for 85.
Tector pulls out as the bowler runs in. Karunaratne isn't pleased. Tector says, 'I have swing dripping into my eye, mate'
Full reverse-swinging ball outside leg stump. Whacks him on the boot as the ball goes towards the off side
Dan: "You never know! They might save the match! Go Tector!"
Dan: "You never know! They might save the match! Go Trector!"
Angled in on off stump, he defends
Slows it up and that is way too short on off. He goes back comfortably and defends. Very slow turn for Jayasuriya.
Gets a hint of turn on off, he stays back and defends to the off side off the backfoot
Very full on off, he digs it to point
Full-length ball on middle. He pushes it back to the bowler
Fuller on off, he gets forward to defend
James Joyce: "Let there be fight? And there was."
Going, going, gone! Banged in short on off, and this one sits up for Tector as he goes back and slams the pull over deep midwicket. He gets into the 80s, Ireland breach the 200-mark. The deficit is now just ten.
And now the field comes in. Square leg stays back, though. Double bluff?
Full-length ball on off, he gets a thick inside-edge back onto his body
Field comes in with two balls in. Oh, scratch that, they are back again to the fence.
Banged in short and that is a good bouncer on middle. Tector can only sway away from the line of it
Low full toss outside off, he slices it to the right of deep third and they take two comfortable runs
Tails the length ball on middle stump, he hacks it to deep midwicket. Did not time it once more.
Swings his bat once again to the length ball on middle and leg. Does not get hold of it and mistimes to deep midwicket
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."
Full outside off, he plays with an open face of the bat past backward point and they take a run
Oh, wow, Tector slips and there was almost a stumping there. Length outside leg. He taps it with soft hands and the ball bounces back onto the turf to the keeper. Tector loses his footing, and has to scramble back in
The field closes in again
Backs away again but Jayasuriya follows him and holds the length ball. He turns it to square leg
Full ball on the pads, he clips it towards square leg
Backs away to the full ball that is outside leg. He opens up and drives to extra cover
1W | ||||
2W | ||||
1W | 1W | |||
2W | ||||
1W | 1W | |||
1W | ||||
Galle International Stadium | |
Toss | Ireland, elected to bat first |
Series | |
Season | 2023 |
Player Of The Match | |
Player Of The Series | |
Series result | Sri Lanka won the 2-match series 2-0 |
Match number | Test no. 2503 |
Hours of play (local time) | 10.00 start, Lunch 12.00-12.40, Tea 14.40-15.00, Close 17.00 |
Match days | 24,25,26,27,28 April 2023 - day (5-day match) |
Test debut | Matthew Humphreys |
FC debut | Matthew Humphreys |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee |