Prabath Jayasuriya took his fifth five-wicket haul to leave Ireland struggling at 117-7 at stumps on day two of the second test against Sri Lanka.
Ireland still needs 274 runs in its first innings to make home team bat again in Galle. Sri Lanka declared on 591-6 after starting the day 386-4.
Sadeera Samarawickrama scored his maiden test century on his recall to the test side after more than five years. Overnight batsman Dinesh Chandimal also scored a hundred as four Sri Lanka batters reached the mark in the first innings.
Captain Dimuth Karunaratne (170) and No. 3 Kusal Mendis (140) laid a strong foundation for the home team on the opening day sharing 281 runs for the second wicket, the highest partnership for any wicket at Galle.
Irish seamer Curtis Campher provided Ireland with a quick breakthrough when he had night watchman Jayasuriya leg before wicket 16. Jayasuriya opted not to review the umpire’s decision and a television replay confirmed the ball was missing the stumps.
Off spinner Andy McBrine then had Dhananjaya de Silva (12) trapped him lbw leaving Sri Lanka 408-6 before Chandimal and Samarawickrama combined for an unbroken 183-run partnership.
Samarawickrama was not out on 104 in 114 deliveries including 11 boundaries. Chandimal reached his 15th century and finished 102 not out with 12 boundaries.
“There was no threat in the pitch and we wanted to bat only once and put the opposition under pressure,” Samarawickrama told reporters.
“I think we have declared at the right time because as the pitch got older it started to spin. I hope that our bowlers will continue to do well.”
Sri Lanka’s left-arm pacer Vishwa Fernando picked up two wickets in the second over of the Irish innings.
Left-handed Murray Commins was stunned by a first ball that seamed away sharply and hit the top of the stump. In the same over Nishan Mudushka took a sharp catch at short-leg to dismiss Andy Balbirnie and eave Ireland 4-2. Harry Tector and James McCollum then shared a promising 70-run partnership.
Jayasuriya, who had played four of his previous five test matches at Galle and had taken five-wickets in an innings four times, lacked bite in his early bowling but soon found form.
In the 24th over he tempted Tector (34) to drive against a ball that was flighted, dipped and turned away from the right hander for a catch to de Silva at slip. Two balls later Campher then went trying to drive Jayasuriya for a catch to Ramesh Mendis at extra cover.
Jayasuriya also bowled McCollum (35) with a nicely flighted delivery and with two more quick wickets finished the day 5-42, while Fernando had 2-22.
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