Courtesy: X
Dinesh Chandimal, the Sri Lanka cricketer, brought up his 16th Test hundred against New Zealand in the second Test of the two-match series at the Galle International Stadium, on Thursday, September 26. The right-handed-batter played an exceptional innings, mixed with caution and aggression in different stages of the first day’s play in the second Test match, to help Sri Lanka reach a commanding position at stumps with 306/3 total in their first innings.
For the unversed, the captain of Sri Lanka, Dhanajaya de Silva, won the toss, and decided to bat first on a very good-looking pitch for batting. But, in the first over, Pathum Nissanka was dismissed for 1 off 3 in the first over by New Zealand captain Tim Southee, who managed to nick him off through to wicket-keeper Tom Blundell, which led to Dinesh Chandimal’s arrival to the crease at number three.
Dinesh Chandimal scored 116 of 208, to play a key role in Sri Lanka getting past 300 on day one
He and Dimuth Karunaratne managed to build a vital stand of 122 runs for the second wicket in their first innings, to put Sri Lanka in control of the proceedings on day one. After Karunaratne ran himself out for 46 off 109, Angelo Mathews got to the crease, and he had a substantial partnership of 97 runs for the third wicket with Chandimal, during which the latter went past his three-figure score.
Dinesh Chandimal ended up scoring 116 runs off 208 balls, an innings which included 15 fours before Glenn Phillips castled him against the run of play, to give New Zealand their third wicket on first day. After Chandimal’s dismissal, Mathews kept the momentum going for Sri Lanka, and the in-form Kamindu Mendis provided impetus to the scoring rate for the hosts as well.
Just before stumps on day one of the second Test, Sri Lanka went past three hundred before Mathews stayed unbeaten on 78 off 166, while Mendis was giving him company on 51 off 56, to end a great day’s work at the Galle International Stadium.
