Ireland collapse to innings defeat in high-scoring Test against Sri Lanka

Ireland were skittled out for 202 in their second innings, leaving them 10 shy of Sri Lanka's 704

(Web Desk) – Hosts Sri Lanka on Friday routed Ireland by an innings and 10 runs in the second Test played at Galle and clinched the series 2-0.

The tourists were skittled out for 202 in their second innings, leaving them 10 shy of Sri Lanka's tally of 704-3 declared.

Ramesh Mendis ripped through Ireland's batting on the last day as he took 5-64 despite Harry Tector's brave 85.

Ireland had opened with their highest Test total of 492 in their first innings, before the hosts' response.

The docile pitch had meant for a runs fest on the opening four days but Mendis' superb bowling performance ensured that the hosts wrapped up victory before tea on Friday.

Sri Lanka won last week's opening Test by an innings and 280 runs and the defeat sees Ireland's run of Test losses since becoming a full member of the International Cricket Council in 2017 stretch to six matches.

Asitha Fernando took three wickets, including the closing dismissals of Tector and Ben White that sealed Sri Lanka's victory.

Ireland went into the final day on 54-2 – still 158 runs adrift of the hosts' mammoth first-inning total.

They suffered an early blow as captain Andrew Balbirnie was forced off the field after being hit on the helmet by a bouncer from paceman Fernando when he was 24 not out.

Paul Stirling came on as the skipper's replacement after notching his first Test century on day two but managed only one run before being sent back to the pavilion as Prabath Jayasuriya became the fastest Sri Lankan to reach 50 Tests wickets when Kusal Mendis took a superb diving catch.

Lorcan Tucker, who had hit a brisk 80 in Ireland's first innings, managed only 13 before a short ball from Fernando struck his ribcage and dribbled on to the stumps to leave the Irish on 78-4.

Ireland's other first-inning century maker Curtis Campher contributed only 12 before becoming Ramesh Mendis' third wicket as he gloved to Kusal Mendis when attempting a sweep shot.

That saw Balbirnie return to the field but the skipper's hopes of producing a match-saving knock, after his 95 in the first innings, were dashed as he was out for 46 after becoming another of Mendis' victims with Angelo Mathews taking the catch.

Tector tried gamely to ensure that Ireland avoided an innings defeat as he hit three sixes and eight fours but ran out of partners as the tourists were unable to force Sri Lanka to bat again.

Kusal Mendis (245) and Nishan Madushka (205) both fired double centuries in Sri Lanka's massive first innings with captain Dimuth Karunaratne hitting 115 and Mathews making 100 not out.

That was only the third occasion in Test history that a batting line-up's top four had all scored centuries.

Record making day four

On Thursday, Nishan Madushka and Kusal Mendis both made double centuries as Sri Lanka’s top four batters all hit hundreds for only the third time in Test history.

In reply to Ireland’s 492 all out, their highest-ever Test score, Sri Lanka declared their first innings on 704 for three after tea on the fourth day of the second Test, 212 runs ahead.

Ireland lost two early wickets in their second innings to end the day 54 for two, needing a further 158 on the final day to avoid a second straight innings defeat.

Ireland could still achieve a historic first draw if they can hang on after losing all five of their games since obtaining Test status in 2017.

“We struggled to get Sri Lankan wickets. But the positive for us is the application and skill our batters showed in the first innings,” Ireland coach Gary Wilson said. “The challenge for us now is to do it again tomorrow and go back home with a draw.”

Madushka converted his maiden Test century into a double hundred, becoming the second-youngest Sri Lankan to score a Test 200 after Mahela Jayawardene. He was dismissed for 205 in the third over after lunch, lbw to Andy McBrine, with Ireland successfully reviewing the decision after the initial appeal was turned down.

Madushka’s marathon knock lasted six minutes short of eight hours after he faced 339 deliveries and hit 22 fours and a six.

Mendis, who had twice been dismissed in the 190s, reached his first Test 200 by pushing a Ben White delivery behind square to steal a single. He amassed 245 runs and was one short of Wasim Akram’s world record of 12 sixes in a Test innings when he was caught at long-off attempting to equal that mark.

Angelo Mathews was dismissed for a duck in the first Test and was put down on one this match, but made the most of his reprieve to post his 16th Test hundred.

That gave the hosts their quadruple-centurions entry in the history books, after India against Bangladesh in 2007 and Pakistan against Sri Lanka in 2019.

Captain Dimuth Karunaratne, who scored 115 on Wednesday, declared immediately.

Their monster total of 704 for three was also the highest-ever score in Galle, eclipsing Bangladesh’s 638 all out in 2013.

The pitch was still a batter’s paradise but Ramesh Mendis cleaned up James McCollum for 10 before Prabath Jayasuriya had Peter Moor caught at short extra cover.

Andy Balbirnie and Harry Tector took Ireland to stumps without further trouble, with the captain on 12 not out and the Ireland number four on seven.