Ireland skipper Andy Balbirnie hit the visitors’ 1st half century on tour and was soon followed to the landmark by Paul Stirling and Lorcan Tucker, as they posted 319/4 at stumps on day 1 of the 2nd Test against Sri Lanka in Galle.
Balbirnie missed out on a deserved maiden Test ton, but his partnership of 115 alongside Stirling was what gave the visitors the upper hand as Sri Lanka went wicket-less in the 2nd session. It might have been the case in the final session as well if not for cramp, as Stirling had to retire hurt on 74.
The burly right-hander was brought into the side to replace Murray Commins, who bagged a pair in the 1st game, but surprisingly did not open the batting. It turned out to be genius move by the Irish, as Stirling’s counter-attack when the visitors were in a tricky position on 89/3 just before lunch, put the pressure back on the hosts.
Balbirnie was somewhat unlucky in the 1st innings of the 1st Test, but enjoyed some luck early on in this innings, with the ball going past the bat a couple of times and a few thick edges falling short of the slip cordon off the quicks. However, to his credit, he played with soft hands, ensuring that he didn’t bring the slips into play when the ball was new and then capitalising on the loose deliveries the Sri Lankans delivered to go to a 42-ball half century, delivering early impetus to the innings.
Balbirnie fell for 95, caught off the back of the bat trying to lap sweep a delivery from Ramesh Mendis, but keeper Tucker kept going at the same pace, taking full advantage of the tiring Sri Lankan bowling attack, putting on 87 runs alongside Curtis Campher for the 5th wicket and finishing unbeaten on 78 at stumps.
For Sri Lanka, it was tough going, with little on offer for the bowlers and the sun blazing down in Galle. The discipline wasn’t where they would have wanted however, with Mendis in particular inconsistent in his lines and lengths.
Earlier in the day, the visitors made three changes to their line-up, bringing in Paul Stirling, Graham Hume and Matthew Humphreys to replace Murray Commins, Mark Adair and George Dockrell. Humphreys is making his Test debut, which is also incidentally his 1st Class debut as well, replacing fellow left-arm spinner Dockrell, who had a poor game last week. Adair, who was impressive with the new ball last week, has flown back to Ireland having struggled to recover from a side niggle he sustained in the 1st game.
