Sri Lanka beat Ireland by an innings and 10 runs in the second Test, winning the two-match series 2-0. This victory was Sri Lanka’s 100th in Test cricket. Ireland has now lost all six matches since making its Test debut in 2018.
Sri Lanka’s Prabath Jayasuriya became the fastest spinner to reach 50 Test wickets, achieving the feat in only seven Test matches. Ramesh Mendis claimed his fourth five-wicket haul in the match.
Ireland batters struggled in hot and humid conditions, with spinners getting some turn and Fernando generating seam and bounce on the fifth-day wicket. The Irish captain, Andy Balbirnie, was hit on the helmet by a bouncer but returned to bat before lunch. He made 46 before holing out to Angelo Mathews at mid-off.
Jayasuriya dismissed opener Peter Moor early in the second innings to reach his milestone before claiming the wicket of Paul Stirling. Sri Lanka hit back at regular intervals, with Fernando taking three wickets and Ramesh Mendis taking five. Harry Tector scored a career-best 85 for Ireland.
Despite the loss, Balbirnie took positives from the match and acknowledged that Ireland needs to improve in red-ball cricket.
