New Zealand collapsed to a record low against Sri Lanka, getting dismissed for 88 during their first innings at Galle.
At the end of day one, New Zealand were 22-2 in reply to Sri Lanka's mammoth first-innings total of 602-5, with Kane Williamson and Ajaz Patel batting. Williamson was dismissed early on day two, caught at slip off Prabath Jayasuriya.
His dismissal triggered a collapse, as New Zealand's batters fell like dominoes. Rachin Ravindra was bowled round his legs, Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips fell to close-in catches and Daryl Mitchell holed out at long on. By the time Mitchell Santner was the last to fall, he had top-scored with 29 as the Black Caps lost eight wickets in the session to be bowled out for 88. Prabath Jayasuriya was the star of the show, picking up 6-42.
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As a result, they have conceded a huge lead of 514 runs, and have been asked to follow on by Sri Lanka.
It was the second-highest first-innings lead Sri Lanka have taken in a Test match. Their highest is a lead of 587 runs they took against South Africa in 2006.
Santner was the only New Zealand batter to cross 20, as eight batters registered single-digit scores. The visitors were eventually out for 88, their lowest-ever Test total against Sri Lanka. Their previous lowest against this opposition was 102, registered in December 1992.
They were asked to follow on, making it the first time since April 2023 that a team was asked to follow on in Test cricket. The previous instance of a side following on was Ireland against Sri Lanka, at this very venue.
New Zealand’s second-lowest Test total in a decade
This was also the side’s second-lowest total in over a decade. New Zealand had managed 62 runs against India at the Wankhede Stadium in 2021, which remains their lowest Test score since the start of 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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