What's happened
Sri Lanka achieved a significant milestone by winning their first Test series against New Zealand in 15 years. Debutant Nishan Peiris took six wickets in the second Test, while Kamindu Mendis scored 182 runs, marking his fifth century in just eight matches. This victory solidifies Sri Lanka's resurgence in international cricket.
Why it matters
What the papers say
According to Al Jazeera, 'Debutant off-spinner Nishan Peiris took six wickets to seal the home side’s first series win against New Zealand in 15 years.' The Independent highlights Kamindu Mendis's remarkable achievement, stating he 'scored his fifth century in just eight Test matches' and reached 1,000 runs in only 13 innings, equaling records set by cricket legends. This performance has drawn comparisons to the greats of the game, emphasizing Mendis's rapid rise in international cricket. Al Jazeera also notes that New Zealand's captain Tim Southee acknowledged the challenges of playing in Galle, stating, 'It’s a tough place to come for a foreign team, and Sri Lanka played some great cricket.'
How we got here
Sri Lanka's cricket team has been rebuilding after a series of underwhelming performances. The recent series against New Zealand marked a turning point, showcasing emerging talents like Kamindu Mendis and Nishan Peiris, who have quickly made their mark in Test cricket.
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Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, is an island country in South Asia, located in the Indian Ocean southwest of the Bay of Bengal and southeast of the Arabian Sea.
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New Zealand is an island country in the southwestern Pacific Ocean. It comprises two main landmasses—the North Island and the South Island —and around 600 smaller islands, covering a total area of 268,021 square kilometres.
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Sir Everton DeCourcy Weekes, KCMG, GCM, OBE was a cricketer from Barbados. A right-handed batsman, he was known as one of the hardest hitters in world cricket.