Prabath Jayasuriya's remarkable five-wicket performance on Monday led Sri Lanka to a 63-run win over New Zealand on the final morning of the first Test in Galle.
The Black Caps, chasing 275 for victory, were bowled out for 211 shortly after play resumed, with Rachin Ravindra top-scoring with a valiant 92.
Ravindra had battled hard on Sunday against a sharply turning pitch, where New Zealand had never won a Test. His score set a record for the highest by a New Zealand player at Galle, surpassing Ross Taylor's 89 in 2019.
However, his resistance ended early on Monday when Jayasuriya trapped him lbw, adding just one run to his overnight score.
Jayasuriya's five wickets in the second innings (5-68) brought his match total to nine. He capped off the win by bowling New Zealand’s rookie pacer William O’Rourke for a duck.
O'Rourke, who claimed eight wickets in the match, including a five-wicket haul in Sri Lanka's first innings, continued to impress in his third Test.
Ajaz Patel shone for New Zealand with figures of 6-90 in Sri Lanka’s second innings, the best by a Kiwi bowler in Sri Lanka since Daniel Vettori’s 6-64 in 1998.
The second and final Test of the series will take place at the same venue starting Thursday.
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