Rachin Ravindra wages lone battle for NZ as SL close in on Test win at Galle

Rachin Ravindra's unbeaten 91 kept New Zealand's hopes alive in a tense Galle Test, but Sri Lanka's spinners, led by Ramesh Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya, left the Blackcaps just two wickets away from defeat on Day 4.

In Short

• Rachin Ravindra stood unbeaten at 91 as New Zealand crumbled
• Sri Lanka’s spinners dominated, reducing New Zealand to 207/8
• Ramesh Mendis and Prabath Jayasuriya took three crucial wickets each

Rachin Ravindra remains New Zealand’s last hope in a tense Duleep Trophy final, standing resilient as Sri Lanka's spinners push Tim Southee's side to the brink of defeat at Galle. On a Day 4 dominated by spin, Sri Lanka's bowling brilliance, led by Ramesh Mendis (3/83) and Prabath Jayasuriya (3/66), brought New Zealand to 207/8 at stumps, leaving them 68 runs away from the target with just two wickets in hand.

The Galle pitch, increasingly turning in favor of the spinners, saw Ravindra put up a valiant fight, remaining unbeaten on 91 off 158 balls. His determined innings provided a glimmer of hope for the Blackcaps, but he received little support from the rest of the batting lineup. Kane Williamson and Tom Blundell, with knocks of 30 each, were the only other notable contributors.

SL vs NZ, 1st Test Day 4: Highlights

Sri Lanka’s spinners were relentless in the final two sessions of the day. Ravindra, however, stood firm, battling the deteriorating surface while the rest of the team crumbled around him. Ajaz Patel, New Zealand’s last recognized batter, managed to survive the final overs, leaving New Zealand with a slim chance of victory on Day 5.

Earlier, New Zealand came out after tea with renewed intent, with Ravindra and Blundell adding a quick 56 runs. However, the spinners struck back, removing Blundell, Glenn Phillips, and Mitchell Santner in quick succession, leaving Ravindra stranded.

Sri Lanka’s dominance on Day 4 was set up by the early dismissal of New Zealand’s top order, as Mendis and Jayasuriya consistently troubled the batters. Now, heading into the final day, all eyes will be on Ravindra as he attempts to pull off a miraculous win for New Zealand, while Sri Lanka look to wrap up an iconic victory.