SL vs IRE | Tucker, Campher Take Ireland Near 500 on Day 2 before Lanka Start Solidly
McBrine congratulates Curtis Campher for century on Day 2 (Source: Twitter)
Ireland: 492 in 145.3 overs (Curtis Campher 111, Paul Stirling 103 ; Prabath Jayasuriya 5-174, Asitha Fernando 2-78) lead Sri Lanka - 81-0 in 18.1 overs (Nishan Madushka 41*, Dimuth Karunaratne 39*).
Ireland mounted 492 on Day 2, their first ever 400 in Tests, thus piling up on their 319-4 from the opening day of the series-deciding second Test. All-rounder Curtis Campher registered his maiden Test century, after losing his overnight partner Lorcan Tucker in the first over of the day.
Meanwhile, Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya resumed his ‘Player of the Match’ act from the first Test to snare another five-wicket haul in the series, the sixth of his career. After bowlers cleaned up the Irish tail, the hosts openers responded back strongly and wiped 81 runs out of their first-innings deficit by stumps.
Jayasuriya mops up tail to restrict Ireland to 492
Even though Ireland recorded an intimidating first innings total, they looked threatening to go beyond the 550-run mark at one stage. However, Sri Lankan bowlers, led by in-form Prabath Jayasuriya, ensured Ireland scored just 18 runs for their final four wickets to be dusted out for 492.
The 31-year-old toiled away for 58.3 overs to claim his sixth Test five-fer, and was assisted by new-ball pace combo of Vishwa Fernando and Asitha Fernando with two wickets apiece.
Earlier in the day, retired hurt Paul Stirling made a return to the crease following Tucker’s dismissal. Resuming at 74*, the batting veteran reached the triple-digits to notch up his maiden Test ton, thus making him only the fourth Irish batter in history, and second of the day, to register a Test hundred.
Left to survive the remaining 34 overs before stumps, Sri Lanka’s first innings response was curtailed to just 18.1 overs owing to bad light. However, in the available time, the hosts openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Nishan Madushka batted with intent to race to 81-0.
The two batters will resume Sri Lanka’s proceedings on Day 3, still 411 runs away from Irelands effort.
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