Thushara, Murali fashion strong win
Led by Murali and Thushara, Sri Lanka made light work of New Zealand's resistance, romping to a 202-run win
18/08Result
1st Test, New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka at Galle, Aug 18-22 2009
-
![Sri Lanka]( "Sri Lanka")
452 & 259/4d -
![New Zealand]( "New Zealand")
299 & 210 (71.5 ov)
Player of the Match
18/08Result
1st Test, New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka at Galle, Aug 18-22 2009
-
![Sri Lanka]( "Sri Lanka")
452 & 259/4d -
![New Zealand]( "New Zealand")
299 & 210 (71.5 ov)
Player of the Match
Day 5
Sangakkara salutes bowling unit
Kumar Sangakkara, the Sri Lanka captain, has said the amount of pressure that his bowlers built around New Zealand paid off and brought them victory on the final day of the first Test
Day 4
Depleted New Zealand battle for survival
There was no case of second-time-unlucky for Tillakaratne Dilshan, and ablazing century pushed a tummy-bug-hit New Zealand to the brink as theGalle Test entered its climactic phase
Application and discipline the key - Moles
Andy Moles believed the pitch is still favourable for batting and his side has the wherewithal to combat Sri Lanka's impressive bowling attack
I'll decide if I want to continue opening - Dilshan
Tillakaratne Dilshan has said that he will review his experimental role as an opener and decide which batting position is better suited to him
Ryder and McCullum out with stomach bugs
Brendon McCullum and Jesse Ryder have been hit by a stomach bug and have returned to their hotel room at the start of the fourth day of the first Test against Sri Lanka in Galle today
Day 3
Murali and Thushara hand Sri Lanka the advantage
Thilan Thushara and Muttiah Muralitharan were Sri Lanka's bowling heroes, while Tim McIntosh, who faced 226 balls for his 69, led the resistance
New Zealand won't collapse like Pakistan - Murali
Muttiah Muralitharan has said New Zealand are unlikely to collapse the way Pakistan did last month in Galle because the pitch was yet to dry and break up
Plan was to bat time, says McIntosh
New Zealand opener Tim McIntosh is disappointed after missing a second Test hundred on another rain hit day in Galle
Day 2
Samaraweera puts Sri Lanka in front
Having seen Thilan Samaraweera strike a magnificent 159 and take Sri Lanka to 452, New Zealand responded strongly in the final session
Vettori calls for big effort from batsmen
Daniel Vettori has said his team fought well to dismiss Sri Lanka for 452 but the real test was to back that with a good batting performance
Previous failures motivated me - Samaraweera
Thilan Samaraweera has said his unsatisfactory scores in the previous series against Pakistan motivated him to get a big hundred at the start of the series against New Zealand
Day 1
Jayawardene and Dilshan put Sri Lanka in control
A wonderfully composed 26th Test century from Mahela Jayawardene and athrill-a-minute 92 from Tillakaratne Dilshan allowed Sri Lanka to dominatethe opening day's play
Dilshan relishing opening slot
Tillakaratne Dilshan has said he enjoyed the role of opener after cracking a 72-ball 92 on the first day in Galle
Others
Dilshan made the difference - Vettori
Daniel Vettori has singled out Tillakaratne Dilshan's ruthless performance with the bat as the key factor behind New Zealand's 202-run defeat in Galle
We need to start all over again - Sangakkara
Kumar Sangakkara has played down Sri Lanka's tag of overwhelming favourites for the two-Test series against New Zealand