Andy Balbirnie Defies SL With 95 on Day 1 as Ireland Leads Charge in 2nd Test
Andy Balbirnie plays a shot on Day 1 (Source: Twitter)
Ireland came up with a much better performance against Sri Lanka in the decider, after sustaining a huge innings drubbing in the opening Test. Captain Andy Balbirnie led charge with the bat on Day 1 after winning the toss and opting to bat first against the hosts in Galle.
As many as three Irish batters charted fighting fifties on the opening day, thus successfully countering a lethal Sri Lankan spin attack on a spin-friendly wicket. The visitors eventually reached 319-4 by stumps, with Lorcan Tucker and Curtis Campher still batting at the crease.
Ireland fights back after first Test defeat
Ireland, who were shot out for 143 and 168 in the first Test in Galle, notched up 319-4 on the opening day of the second Test at the same venue. However, flashbacks of the opening game briefly returned to haunt the visitors as they had lost both their openers cheaply and within the first 10 overs of the innings.
Thereafter, skipper Andy Balbirnie launched a counterattacking stand with comeback man Paul Stirling. The two cricketers registered rebellious half-centuries, with their unbeaten partnership coming to an end when the latter decider to retire hurt from the crease.
Balbirnie, dismissed on 95, missed out on a well-deserved maiden Test century after he was deceived by Ramesh Mendis off a length ball. Stirling retiring hurt on 74 remained the next best score of the day until wicketkeeper-batter Lorcan Tucker surpassed him with even more aggressive 78*.
Tucker, who was joined by all-rounder Curtis Campher late in the day, piled on a weary Sri Lankan attack by hammering 55 runs off the final 10 overs. The two cricketers will now launch Ireland’s proceedings on Day 2, batting at 78* and 27* respectively.
Among the Sri Lankan bowlers, Prabath Jayasuriya, fresh from his ‘Player of the Match’ award from the first Test, snared two more Irish victims to his series tally. The left-arm spinner dismissed opener James McCollum before returning to claim Harry Tector’s wicket on the stroke of lunch.
Asitha Fernando and Ramesh Mendis were the only other wicket-takers of the day, as Sri Lanka brace themselves to chase a sizeable first-innings Ireland score sometime on Day 2.
Brief scores:
Ireland: 319-4 (90)
Andy Balbirnie 95 (163), Lorcan Tucker 78* (102)
Prabath Jayasuriya 2-95, Asitha Fernando 1-46
Ireland won the toss and opted to bat first
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