Sri Lanka Stun Ireland After Madushka, Mendis Double Tonnes

Nishan Madushka and Kusal Mendis both hit double centuries, while Angelo Mathews blasted an impressive unbeaten 100 off just 114 balls, as Sri Lanka responded fittingly to Ireland’s 492 by amassing a mammoth 704/3 before declaring.

On the fourth day, Ramesh Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya further extended Sri Lanka’s dominance as Ireland lost two wickets before stumps.

Determined to build on their strong start, Sri Lanka aimed to bury Ireland under an avalanche of runs, with Madushka and Mendis combining for a mammoth 268-run partnership for the second wicket.

Madushka had earlier put on 228 for the first wicket with captain Dimuth Karunaratne.

It was a difficult day for Ireland, who were unable to find any respite.

Madushka and Mendis first brought Sri Lanka close to Ireland’s first innings total in the opening session, before consolidating their position in the game.

Madushka continued his incredible form from Day 3, where he was unbeaten on 149, to score his first-ever Test double hundred.

After 38 overs of play on Day 5, Ireland finally found a breakthrough when Andy McBrine had opener Madushka trapped leg before wicket. The umpire’s initial decision was not in favor of the bowling side, and they decided to review it. The TV umpire eventually overturned the decision, dismissing Madushka on 205 off 339 balls, including 22 fours and a six.

The wicket brought a shift in Sri Lanka’s batting approach, with former captain Matthews taking the crease. In the second session after the drinks break, Mendis reached his own double century, off 263 balls.

Matthews started his innings carefully but soon found his rhythm, hitting an excellent on-drive against Curtis Campher for his first boundary.

Campher continued to pitch the ball up, hoping to induce mistakes from the batsmen, but Matthews punished him by hitting another boundary over mid-on.

He also launched leg-spinner Benjamin White for a six and went on to score a quick half-century off just 77 balls.

In their partnership of 25.5 overs, Mendis and Matthews wreaked havoc on the Irish bowlers, adding 133 runs and taking Sri Lanka past the 600-run mark.

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इंडिया नॅशनल क्रिकेट टीम

Mendis was also chasing the world record for most sixes in a Test innings, set by Wasim Akram at 12, but fell just one short of the record after being caught by Matthew Humphrey at the boundary line at long-on.

Mendis departed for an impressive 245 off 291 balls, including 18 fours and 11 sixes.

Dinesh Chandimal came in to join Matthews but was forced to retire hurt after just 14 balls due to a shoulder injury sustained while diving to avoid a run-out.

Despite this setback, Matthews continued to dominate the Irish bowlers, and in partnership with Dhananjaya de Silva, batted for another 6.5 overs to reach his century off just 114 balls.

At this point, Sri Lanka’s captain, Karunaratne, declared the innings, setting Ireland a massive target of 704 and a first-innings lead of 212 runs.

In their second innings, Ireland got off to a poor start, with opener James McCollum being bowled by Ramesh Mendis as early as the fifth over.

Peter Moor was dismissed by Jayasuriya, who took a sharp catch at short cover.

Andrew Balbirnie and Harry Tector managed to drag Ireland to 54/2 at stumps on Day 5, still trailing Sri Lanka by 158 runs.

For Ireland to avoid defeat, they will need their experienced batters to dig in and replicate their first innings effort of frustrating the Sri Lankan bowlers.