Ireland skipper Andy Balbirnie’s 95-run knock and half-centuries from Paul Stirling and Lorcan Tucker helped the visitors dictate terms on Day 1 of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Galle International Stadium.
Balbirnie won the toss and opted to bat first. But Ireland did not get off to a good start. Peter Moor (5) was the first to fall. He tried to flick but missed the ball which hit him on the pads. Sri Lanka skipper Dimuth Karunaratne opted for review and Asitha Fernando drew first blood in the fourth over.
Balbirnie joined James McColloum in the middle and he did not refrain from attacking the new ball. In the ninth over, he hit Vishwa Fernando for three fours. As soon as the skipper introduced left-arm spinner Prabhath Jayasuriya into the attack, the hosts got a breakthrough. McCollum edged it to the wicketkeeper. He scored 10 runs from 28 balls.
Balbirnie reached his half-century from 43 balls with a boundary off Ramesh Mendis. In his next over, Mendis got Harry Tector out lbw but the umpire reversed the decision. Tector could not make an impact as he became Jayasuriya's second victim of the day. Stirling walked in to bat and got off the mark with a six off Jayasuriya. After the first session, Ireland had 106/3 on the board.
After the lunch break, Balbirnie took a backseat as Stirling took the attack to the opposition. He pounced on every opportunity score and justified the inclusion into the side. He reached his half-century from 63 deliveries in the 39th over. Sri Lankan bowlers tried to put the pressure back on Ireland pair as they bowled nine overs without conceding a boundary. At the end of second session, Ireland had 199/3 on the board.
The partnership looked formidable but cramps got the better of Stirling. He got the attention from physio but had to retire. He scored 74 runs from 133 balls including six fours and three sixes. Tucker joined Balbirnie in the middle. He was troubled early on in his innings but survived. Balbirnie had a chance to score his maiden Test hundred but missed his century by five runs. He edged one to the first slip fielder Dhananjaya de Silva off Mendis' bowling. He scored 95 runs from 163 balls including 14 fours.
Curtis Campher took his time to settle in the middle. In the 77th over, Sri Lanka had a chance to dismiss Tucker but they did not review. Sri Lanka opted for the new ball straightaway. Boundaries started flowing and Tucker got to his half-century from 71 deliveries. At the end of Day 3, Ireland had 319/4 on the board. Irish wicketkeeper-batter Tucker remained not out for 78 from 102 deliveries including 10 fours. On the other end, Campher scored 27 runs from 64 balls including two fours and one six.
Ireland have a chance to post a mammoth first innings total as Stirling may return to the field on Day 2 after recovering from cramps. If they scored 21 runs more, it will be their highest innings total in Test cricket.
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