New Zealand fast bowler William O’Rourke rocked Sri Lanka with two early wickets as the hosts lunched at 88 for two on the first day of the first cricket Test in Galle on Wednesday.
O’Rourke, a tall and quick right-hander, was on point and giving Sri Lanka’s batsmen a hard time. He caught Dimuth Karunaratne behind with a rising delivery and two overs later removed Pathum Nissanka with a yorker.
After an initial spell of five overs that accounted for both openers, O’Rourke returned for a second spell before lunch and troubled both Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews.
Mathews was hit on the gloves by a sharp rising delivery and was forced to retire when he was on 12. The Sri Lanka team management confirmed that he is out of danger and will bat at the fall of the next wicket.
Dinesh Chandimal, relieved of wicket-keeping duties and batting at No. 3 instead of his usual No. 5, was unbeaten on 30 but had some nervous moments.
Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat.
Last week, New Zealand played a warm-up Test match against Afghanistan in India, which was called off after five days without a ball being bowled. Sri Lanka are coming off a three-match Test series in England, which the hosts won 2-1.
The teams will play a second round from 26 September, also in Galle.
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