Jayasuriya takes 6-42 as New Zealand collapse to 88 all out

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Spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took 6-42, his ninth five-wicket haul, as New Zealand fell by 88 in the second Test on Saturday in reply to Sri Lanka’s mammoth score of 602-5.

Sri Lanka captain Dhanajaya de Silva forced the follow-up and New Zealand stuttered at 3-1 with two overs to spare in the second innings, needing 511 more to avoid an innings defeat.

Tom Latham was the man out before half-time. He was dismissed without scoring and was caught by Pathum Nissanka at short leg off the bowling of Nishan Peiris, who had previously taken three wickets in the first innings.

Jayasuriya, who started the Test with 88 wickets from 15 matches, now needs six more in the second innings to equal the record for the fastest bowler to 100 Test wickets.

The record has stood since 1896 when England’s George Lohmann took 100 wickets in his 16th Test.

The New Zealand batsmen barely put up a fight in their first innings with a precarious 22-2 scoreline and their highest partnership was 20, scored by the last pair of Mitchell Santner, who scored the most with 29, and William O’Rourke (2nd). ) added.

Leading batsman Kane Williamson could not contain Sri Lanka’s formidable spin attack as Jayasuriya dismissed him in the third over, triggering the collapse.

Captain de Silva took five catches straight away, equaling the record for most innings in a Test by a non-wicketkeeper, a milestone he shared with 15 others.

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