Curtis Campher Andy Balbirnie George Dockrell Harry Tector Ireland Sri Lanka Bangladesh cricket Sport Curtis Campher Andy Balbirnie George Dockrell Harry Tector Ireland Sri Lanka Bangladesh

Sri Lanka in command against Ireland

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Ireland face a battle to avoid defeat in their first-ever Test against Sri Lanka, who tightened their stranglehold on the second day of the series opener in Galle.Sri Lanka ran up 591 for six declared as Dinesh Chandimal (102 not out) and Sadeera Samarawickrama (104no) followed opening-day centurions Dimuth Karunaratne and Kusal Mendis in going to three figures.Ireland's bowlers lacked a cutting edge and their opponents darted along at four and a half an over before spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took five for 42 as the tourists limped to 117 for seven at the close.Vishwa Fernando did the initial damage with the ball, finding a hint of movement to knock back Murray Commins’ off-stump with his first delivery and the left-arm seamer had two for the over when Ireland captain Andy Balbirnie was snaffled at the second attempt by Nishan Madushka, fielding at short leg.Ireland rebuilt from a humble position of four for two, with James McCollum and Harry Tector putting on 70 but they were left in a heap thereafter, troubled by Jayasuriya’s dip and drift on a turning pitch.Tector and Curtis Campher were undone in the flight and dismissed in the same over and McCollum was bowled by a beauty on 35 which pitched on middle and straightened to brush the top of off-stump.Peter Moor nicked off, with wicketkeeper Samarawickrama completing the catch on a day he registered his maiden Test century, while Jayasuriya had his five-for after pinning George Dockrell plumb in front.Lorcan Tucker, a centurion earlier this month in a losing cause against Bangladesh, resisted and was unbeaten on 21 at stumps but Ireland trail by a mammoth 474 and have it all to do to stay level in the two-match series.

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Sri Lanka off-spinner Ramesh Mendis claimed five second innings wickets as his team thumped Ireland by an innings and 10 runs in the second test for a 2-0 series sweep in Galle on Friday.
Ireland's bowlers struggled to take wickets in sapping conditions on day four in Galle as Sri Lanka mounted 704-3 declared, led by Kusal Mendis’ 245, before the hosts claimed two early wickets to help set up an intriguing fifth day as Ireland fight to save a draw.
Dimuth Karunaratne and Nishan Madushka both hit centuries as they amassed a record Sri Lankan opening stand in Galle of 228 in the second Test against Ireland on Wednesday. The hosts were 357 for one at the close, still 135 runs behind but with nine wickets in hand. Madushka was unbeaten on 149 at stumps, alongside Kusal Mendis, approaching a century of his own on 83, after Karunaratne departed for 115 -- the only wicket to fall on the third day of the match.
Ireland toiled for little reward in the field a day after their record-breaking batting feats as Sri Lanka charged to 357 for one in Galle to trail the tourists by just 135.
Ireland posted their highest-ever Test score of 492 on Tuesday as Paul Stirling and Curtis Campher became only the third and fourth Irishmen to hit centuries in cricket's longest format. Sri Lanka were 81 without loss in reply before rain stopped play on day two in Galle, 411 runs behind with Nishan Madushka unbeaten on 41 and Dimuth Karunaratne 39 not out. But the day belonged to Ireland, with Stirling scoring 103 and Campher 111 after captain Andy Balbirnie made 95 on day one. Lorcan Tucker scored a useful 80 while Prabath Jayasuriya, the home hero of the first Test, took five wickets for 174. Asitha Fernando and Vishwa Fernando took two wickets each.
Paul Stirling and Curtis Campher hit their maiden Test centuries as Ireland posted a record total on Day 2 of their Test match against Sri Lanka in Galle.

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