STATISTICS: New Zealand suffers generational humiliation in Galle | New Zealand tour through Sri Lanka, 2024

With less than an hour to go on the second day, Sri Lanka declared their innings with Kamindu Mendis at 182* to give themselves more time to capture 20 New Zealand wickets and win the Test.

Well, after what transpired in the first session of the third day, Dhananjaya de Silva, in hindsight, probably wishes he would just let Kamindu bat and get his double ton.

When the Kiwis overnight on February 22nd. came on again, they suffered an embarrassing collapse, losing their last eight wickets for just 66 runs.

They received a rollover of 88, their fifth lowest total in Asia and their lowest ever total against Sri Lanka in Tests. It is the first time the Blackcaps have been bowled out under 100 in Tests against Sri Lanka.

Lowest total for New Zealand against Sri Lanka in Tests

88 full throttle in Galle in 2024

102 Full Throttle in Colombo in 1992

109 in Napier in 1995

114 in Galle in 1998

Lowest total for New Zealand in Asia

62 all out against India in Mumbai, 2021

70 all out against Pakistan in Dhaka, 1955

73 all out against Pakistan in Lahore, 2002

79 all out against Pakistan in Rawalpindi, 1965

88 all-out against Sri Lanka in Galle, 2024

By being bowled out for 88, New Zealand conceded a lead of 514 runs. It is only the seventh time in history and the first time in 18 years that a team has conceded a lead of more than 500 runs in the first innings.

Most innings lead after the end of the first innings in Tests

702 – England v Australia, The Oval, 1938

587 – Sri Lanka v South Africa, Colombo (SSC), 2006

570 – Pakistan vs New Zealand, Lahore, 2002

563 – West Indies v England, Jamaica, 1930

514 – Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, Galle, 2024

509 – South Africa v England, Lord’s, 2003

504 – England v Australia, Brisbane, 1946

It is also only the second time in history that a team has managed to be eliminated under 100 points after bowling first and conceding 600 goals.

The first and only team to achieve this undesirable feat? New Zealand.

There are cases where a team under 100 is eliminated after conceding 600 goals in Tests

PAK – 643 all out | NZ – 73 All Out, Lahore, 2002

SL – 602/5d | New Zealand – 88 All-Out, Galle, 2024

That day, as expected, New Zealand’s demise was brought about by the left-arm spin of Prabath Jayasuriya, who scored his NINTH 5-fer in Tests in just 16 games.

Jayasuriya is now only behind Vaas, Herath and Muralitharan in terms of five-fers for Sri Lanka.

Most five-wicket haul in Tests for Sri Lanka

67 – Muttiah Muralitharan

34 – Rangana Herath

12 – Chaminda Vaas

9 – Prabath Jayasuriya*

Furthermore, only one other spinner in history has hit more fives in his first 16 Tests. And mind you, Jayasuriya has a chance to achieve this feat in the second innings.

Most 5-wicket hauls for a spinner in the first 16 Tests

10 – Clarrie Grimmett

9 – Prabath Jayasuriya*

9- Ravichandran Ashwin

8 – Subhash Gupte

Currently, 68 of Jayasuriya’s 94 Test wickets have arrived in Galle. Only two other bowlers, Muralitharan and Herath, have taken more wickets at the venue.

Most wickets in Galle in Tests

111 – Muttiah Muralitharan

102 – Rangana Herath

68 – Prabath Jayasuriya

In the first innings, Jayasuriya had a big help from skipper de Silva, who took five catches. This made de Silva only the second Sri Lankan in history to take more than 5 catches in an innings as a non-wicketkeeper.

Cases where a SL fielder took more than 5 catches in an innings in Tests

5 – Lahiru Thirimanne vs ENG, Galle, 2021

5* – Dhanajaya de Silva vs New Zealand, Galle, 2024

*Among non-keepers

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