SL vs IRE, 2nd Test, Day 3: Karunaratne and Madhushanka scored centuries, Sri Lanka scored 357/1

New Delhi. Openers Dimuth Karunaratne and Nishan Madhushanka struck centuries in a record partnership as Sri Lanka posted 357 for one on the third day of the second cricket Test against Ireland here on Wednesday. Captain Karunaratne was the only batsman to be dismissed during the day’s play. He returned to the pavilion on the ball of Curtis Campher just before lunch. He scored 115 runs in 133 balls with 15 fours. After the dismissal of Karunaratne, Madhushanka (149 not out) and Kusal Mendis (83 not out) did not allow Ireland to achieve further success during the day’s play. Both have made an unbroken partnership of 129 runs for the second wicket. Due to heavy rain, play had to be stopped shortly before the tea break, which could not be resumed.

Madhushanka hit 18 fours and a six in his 234-ball innings, while Mendis’ 96-ball innings included seven fours and five sixes. The 24-year-old Madhushanka was embraced by the captain when he completed his maiden century with a four over deep mid-wicket off Harry Tector. Madhushanka, however, was lucky to score 131 when Ireland captain Andrew Balbirnie dropped a simple catch at first slip off off-spinner Andy McBirney.

Read this also- ICC T20I Rankings: Rizwan is again becoming a threat to Suryakumar, big jump in T20 rankings

Earlier, Karunaratne completed a century in just 116 balls, which is his 16th career and second century of the series. This is also the fastest century of his career. Earlier in 2021, he scored a century in 123 balls against South Africa in Johannesburg. Karunaratne added 228 runs for the first wicket with Madhushanka, which is the best partnership for the first wicket in Galle. The pair broke the record set by Sanath Jayasuriya and Marvan Atapattu against South Africa in 2000.

After the dismissal of Karunaratne, Mendis batted stormy. Mendis, who scored 140 runs in the first Test, completed his half-century in just 59 balls. He hit three consecutive sixes on Matthew Humphrey.

First read breaking news in Hindi News18 Hindi| Read today’s latest news, live news updates, most reliable Hindi news website News18 Hindi.

Tags: Dimuth Karunaratne, Irish, sri lanka