(Cricket news) Despite threatening Irish bowling, particularly from Mark Adair, Sri Lanka continued to score runs despite starting the day on 381-4. Samarawickrama reached his first century in a Test before Sri Lanka eventually made their final declaration at 591-6.

After Ireland lost two early wickets, Harry Tector and James McCollum put on a 70-run partnership in the evening session. However, Ireland collapsed after losing two wickets in two deliveries, and three more fell before play was over, giving Prabath Jayasuriya his fifth Test five-for in ten innings.

In order to prevent another long day on the pitch, Ireland sought to rapidly bat through Sri Lanka’s middle order at the start of the day. Early on, there were encouraging signals when nightwatchman Prabath Jayasuriya was sent back by Curtis Campher after being caught in front by lbw in the second over of play.

Dhananjaya de Silva was hit on the pad square in front by Andy McBrine’s first ball of the day, who also scored early. But from that point on, the home team pretty much had it all to themselves.

Five boundaries were hit by Samarawickrama and Chandimal in the first four overs of their partnership as they took advantage of the tougher new ball. Chandimal was the first to reach fifty, not long after the pair reached the 450-point mark for their team.

A few balls later, Chandimal escaped a review and was declared not out despite only cutting his leg stump on impact. Ireland’s final realistic opportunity of the innings would be that one. Samarawickrama, who was playing in his first Test match since 2017, scored his first Test fifty and the team’s 500th run with the same stroke in the last over before lunch.

The middle session, which continued the pattern from day one and included the brightest sun of the day and a ground that offered little for the rapidly deteriorating ball, was the most painful for Ireland. First, Chandimal reached his century, this time over the covers rather than another boundary. His fifth in Galle, and his fifteenth overall, in Test cricket. 

After hitting back-to-back fours in the subsequent over, Samarawickrama reached his first Test century, the first century by a wicketkeeper for Sri Lanka since 2016. Chandimal and Samarawickrama’s team, which scored 183 points without conceding a point. 

Karunaratne made Sri Lanka’s declaration with a commanding score of 591-6 at the conclusion of the over during which Samarawickrama reached his century. Ireland had just over 30 minutes left in the session before they were to bat.

After Murray Commins was destroyed by a peach of a first pitch from Vishwa Fernando, they were behind 1-0. The bat of Commins was shaped away from the ball as it was pitched on middle stump and it clipped off stump after snaking past his outside edge.

After being superbly collected by Nishan Madushka at short leg four balls later, Andrew Balbirnie was also on his way back to the locker room. Balbirnie middled the ball off his pads but right to Madushka, who was able to parry it up and then catch it on his second attempt.

Tector and McCollom gave Ireland some breathing room, but they also created a strong connection that helped them win 27-2 at tea. Following the interval, they proceeded, putting together a fifty-run partnership in 17 overs, and advancing late in the session. Ramesh Mendis’ loft over long-on provided Tector with his only six of the day as he hammered a maximum.

But when Ireland lost three wickets in just as many overs, disaster hit. Before Campher, who was also looking for the shot, fell two balls later, Tector managed to edge a drive off a ball that Jayasuriya had tossed up. The second victim of Jayasuriya’s bowling was McCollum, who was struck by a ripper of a delivery that removed his off stump.

At the conclusion of play, Ireland had a score of 117-7 thanks to PJ Moor being caught behind for 14 and George Dockrell being lbw for two. Tomorrow morning, Lorcan Tucker will resume on 21; Andy McBrine, who is unbeaten, will be on 5.

Sri Lanka 591-4 (131 overs; Dimuth Karunaratne 179, Kusal Mendis 140, Curtis Campher 2-84)

Ireland 117-7 (45 overs; James McCollum 35, Harry Tector 34, Prabath Jayasuriya 5-42)

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