Sri Lanka’s top order got a perfect start to the must-win series

Sri Lanka’s top order got off to a perfect start in the Test series on the first day of the warm-up match. Sri Lanka batted first, and they declared their innings at 276 runs for the loss of four wickets in 57.3 overs. Oshada Fernando and Dimuth Karunarathne start the innings and both add 37 runs for the first wicket until Dimuth Karunarathne is dismissed for 21 runs. After the dismissal of Dimuth Karunarathne, Kusal Mendis joined Osada and made a brilliant 162 run partnership for the 2nd wicket. Kusal Mendis scored 95 runs in 87 balls. Six runs later, Oshada Fernando retired for 78 runs. After that, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews made a 71-run partnership for the third wicket. Dinesh Chandimal scored 35 runs. In the very next over, Angelo Mathews was dismissed for 38 runs. After that, Sri Lanka decided to declare their innings over at 276.

In reply, the New Zealand XI scored 141 runs for the loss of 1 wicket at the end of day 1. Jacob Cumming and Jack Boyle made a 55-run partnership for the first wicket, and Cumming was dismissed for 27 runs. At the end of the day’s play, Jack Boyle stayed on not out for 73 runs, while Jakob Bhula on the other end had 37 runs. For Sri Lanka, Lahiru Kumara claimed the only wicket that fell.