New Zealand pacer William O’Rourke rocks Sri Lanka with two early wickets in first Test

New Zealand fast bowler William O’Rourke rocked Sri Lanka by taking two early wickets, reducing the hosts to 88 for two at lunch on Wednesday on the first day of the first cricket Test in Galle.

A tall right-arm pacer, O’Rourke troubled the Sri Lankan batsmen, having Dimuth Karunaratne caught behind off a rising delivery and then dismissing Pathum Nissanka off a yorker two overs later.

After an opening spell of five overs by both openers, O’Rourke returned for a second spell before lunch and troubled both Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews.

Mathews was forced to retire after being hit on the glove by a rising delivery on 12. Sri Lankan team management has confirmed that he is out of danger and will bat when the next wicket falls.

Dinesh Chandimal, relieved of the wicket-keeping duties and coming in to bat at No. 3 instead of his traditional No. 5, remained unbeaten on 30 runs but looked nervous for a few moments.

Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat.

New Zealand played a warm-up Test against Afghanistan in India last week which was washed out after five days without a ball being bowled. Sri Lanka are playing a three-match Test series in England which the hosts won 2-1.

Both the teams will play the second Test in Galle from September 26.