The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
Ireland need more matches under their belt in this format to be a real force but that'll take a few more years. They have just started their Test journey and put up a brilliant fight against Bangladesh even though they ended up on the wrong side of the result. Against the other Asian giant, they were completely pinned down but they should take this as a learning curve and improve their performances in all three facets of the game before the second Test, that starts at the same venue on April 24th
On the other hand, Sri Lanka were so clinical with both bat and ball as they wrapped things up within the first three days. It should be more of the same in the second Test as well unless a different Ireland turn up to match their opponents. On that note, it's time to end the coverage here. Until next time, it's Pragadeesh and Bidipto signing off
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Dimuth Karunaratne (Sri Lankan Captain) - First of all, I wanted to make sure that I got a big one. In Australia, I had starts but I wanted three figures. The key was patience. Ireland are a very good team and they played well in Bangladesh. They will learn and be a good team in the future. The wicket looked dry in the first innings and they bowled really well. We wanted to apply ourselves in the first hour and we knew how to handle spin in these conditions. The fielding was very good. Madushka was too good. Sadeera was a hard worker and he did well in the A team and the NSL. I always knew that he would do well if given a chance. (On Prabath Jayasuriya) He knew what he had to do. He has patience and he knows where to hit the areas. I just give him the ball and he does the rest
Andy Balbirnie (Ireland captain): I think it is another Test match under out belt. Sri Lanka are always a tough side to beat at home and we just found that out but this will give us some much needed experience for sure. We have to make the transition from white to red ball cricket smaller. The more we play this format, the better it will be I think.
Prabath Jayasuriya has been adjudged the Player of the Match! Here is what he has to say.
Prabath Jayasuriya: I always try to give my 100%. I try to get my basics right and not try anything too fancy. I think this is a similar wicket to what he had against Pakistan and Australia. There is a bit of drift on offer from both ends, so I enjoy that.
It is time now for the post-match presentation!
Sri Lanka won by an innings & 280 runs
It's the biggest innings victory for Sri Lanka since they defeated Zimbabwe by an innings & 254 runs in 2004. There was never a contest in this match since Dimuth Karunaratne won the toss and opted to bat. The hosts were so commanding with the bat and posted a massive first innings total on the board, all thanks to the centurions, Karunaratne, Kusal Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal and Samarawickrama
It was always going to be a big challenge for the visitors to tackle the Sri Lankan spinners in their own backyard and as expected, they fell prey to some world-class spin bowling from Prabath Jayasuriya. After the batting failure in the first innings, Ireland lost wickets in clusters even after the follow-on was enforced. The partnership between Tector and Campher in the second session, however, was a big positive to take for them in this Test match
Tector was the only batter, who showed enough grit and determination to tackle the Sri Lankan spin duo but he failed to convert those 30s and 40s into a big knock. If it was all about Jayasuriya in the first innings, Ramesh Mendis did the damage today, picking up four wickets and also becoming the quickest Sri Lankan to notch up 50 Test Wickets
54.1 Prabath Jayasuriya to Ben White, STONE DEAD! WHITE REVIEWS BUT ONLY AS A FORMALITY. Good length ball on middle-and-off. White plays for the angle in and not the turn away. It spins past his bat's outside edge and strikes him on the back pad in line with the stumps. The appeal for LBW gets upheld by the umpire.
It is a fair delivery. There is no bat on ball whatsoever. And the ball is going on to crash into off-stump! White is OUT and Sri Lanka are victorious by an innings and 280 runs!
Ben White lbw b Prabath Jayasuriya 1 (2b, 0x4, 0x6)
Dockrell showed his batting prowess and it looked good until it lasted
54
overs
168/9score
1
1
0
1
W
1
runs
Ben White*
1(1)
Mark Adair
23(29)
Ramesh Mendis
4/76
53.6 Ramesh Mendis to Ben White, OH! Good length off-spinning ball on off-stump. Inside edged past the left of short-leg from the front foot for a single.
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Galle International Stadium
Ben White
*
Ramesh Mendis
Video
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