Prabath Jayasuriya's Heroics Propel Sri Lanka to Victory over New Zealand

Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya took nine wickets, leading Sri Lanka to a 63-run victory over New Zealand in the first Test. New Zealand failed to reach their target, despite a valiant effort by Rachin Ravindra. Sri Lanka's win moves them up in the World Test Championship standings.

Left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya delivered a stellar performance, claiming nine wickets overall to lead Sri Lanka to a 63-run victory over New Zealand in the first Test on Monday. New Zealand, needing 68 more runs to reach their target of 275, managed to add just four runs before Sri Lanka wrapped up the game in only 3.4 overs.

Overnight batsman Rachin Ravindra, who had kept New Zealand's hopes alive with a valiant 91, could only add one more run before being trapped leg before wicket by Jayasuriya. Jayasuriya then bowled the last man, William O'Rourke, for a duck, sealing Sri Lanka's victory and marking his eighth five-wicket haul in tests.

Although Ravindra narrowly missed out on a century, his score of 92 is now the highest by a New Zealand batter in Galle. Sri Lanka's win moved them up to third place in the World Test Championship standings. The teams will remain in Galle for the second Test, which begins on Thursday.

(With inputs from agencies.)