Sri Lankan left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya was the star of the first innings, taking 6 wickets for just 42 runs, while debutant off-spinner Nishan Peiris also contributed, taking three wickets and dismissing New Zealand opener Tom Latham in the second innings.
New Zealand now faces the daunting task of chasing an improbable 511 runs on a turning Galle pitch to avoid an innings defeat. They had already lost the first Test by 63 runs, and a loss in this match would give Sri Lanka their first series win over New Zealand since 2009.
Jayasuriya is now on the verge of making cricket history. He is just six wickets away from equaling the record for the fastest to 100 Test wickets, a milestone set by England’s George Lohmann in 1896. Should Jayasuriya achieve this, it will mark one of the most significant individual feats in modern Test cricket.
Who is Prabath Jayasuriya?
Neketh Gedara Roshan Prabath Jayasuriya, commonly known as Prabath Jayasuriya, is a Sri Lankan cricketer who plays in both ODI and Test formats.
A slow left-arm orthodox bowler, Jayasuriya has become one of Sri Lanka’s key players, especially in Test cricket.As of now, Jayasuriya has taken 88 wickets from 15 Test matches at an average of 29.27.He has also played two ODIs but is yet to claim a wicket in the format.
He made his ODI debut against South Africa and played his first Test against Australia in 2022.
Jayasuriya has already claimed 9 five-wicket hauls in Test cricket, placing him among Sri Lanka’s top bowlers with the most “fifers.”
Now, with just six more wickets, he could tie or surpass George Lohmann’s 127-year-old record of being the fastest bowler to reach 100 Test wickets.
