New Zealand suffer sensational collapse, record lowest Test score against Sri Lanka

New Zealand slumped to a record low against Sri Lanka, being bowled out for 88 during their first innings in Galle.

At the end of the first day, New Zealand were 22-2 in response to Sri Lanka’s mammoth first innings total of 602-5, with Kane Williamson and Ajaz Patel batting. Williamson was dismissed early on the second day, caught at slip off Prabath Jayasuriya.

His dismissal caused a collapse, as the New Zealand batsmen fell like dominoes. Rachin Ravindra was bowled around his legs, Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips fell for close catches and Daryl Mitchell holed out at long-on. When Mitchell Santner was last to fall, he had top-scored with 29, as the Black Caps lost eight wickets in the session and were bowled out for 88. Prabath Jayasuriya was the star of the show, winning 6-42.

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As a result, they have conceded a huge lead of 514 runs and Sri Lanka have asked them to move on.

was the Second highest lead Sri Lanka has ever taken in a Test match. Their biggest advantage is a 587-run lead they took against South Africa in 2006.

Santner was the only New Zealand batsman to cross 20, as eight batsmen recorded single-digit scores. The visitors finally bowled out for 88, his lowest Test total against Sri Lanka. Their previous lowest score against this opposition was 102, recorded in December 1992.

They were asked to continue, making it the first time since April 2023 that a team was asked to continue in Test cricket. He The previous example of a team following was Ireland against Sri Lanka, at this very venue.

New Zealand’s second-lowest test total in a decade

This was also the team’s second-lowest total in over a decade. New Zealand had scored 62 runs against India at the Wankhede Stadium in 2021, which still his lowest test score since early 2014.

The only other time New Zealand failed to reach 100 runs in the last decade was against Pakistan, in 2018, when they were bowled out for 90.

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