Top 5 best bowling figures by Prabath Jayasuriya in test cricket

Sri Lankan spinner Prabath Jayasuriya has registered one seven-wicket haul in test cricket.

In the search for the next Rangana Herath, Sri Lanka found Prabath Jayasuriya, who made his test debut at the age of 30 in 2022.

The left-arm spinner from Matale has cemented his spot in Sri Lanka’s playing XI in home test matches on the back of delivering match-winning performances in favourable conditions.

In his first 16 tests, Jayasuriya has bagged nine five-wicket hauls, eight of which have come in Galle and one in Colombo. He has picked up five-fors against Australia, New Zealand, and Pakistan.

In this article, we will look at Jayasuriya’s best five bowling figures in test cricket.

Top five best bowling figures by Prabath Jayasuriya in test cricket:

5. 5/68 vs New Zealand, Galle, 2024

In the first test of the two-match series between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle in 2024, Prabath Jayasuriya delivered a match-winning performance by taking nine wickets in the game – registering figures of 4/136 & 5/68. This turned out to be a good contest, which the hosts eventually won by 63 runs.

His five-for was crucial in the fourth innings of the match as Sri Lanka successfully defended 275. He also dismissed Kane Williamson in New Zealand’s second innings.

4. 6/118 vs Australia, Galle, 2022

In the second test of the 2022 home series against Australia, Jayasuriya shone brightly with the ball, helping his side thump the Aussies by an innings and 39 runs.

This huge victory for the Lankans was made possible by Prabath’s six-wicket hauls in both of Australia’s innings. In the first innings, he recorded figures of 6/118 as the Aussies scored 364. The hosts piled up 554 courtesy of Dinesh Chandimal’s double hundred. Jayasuriya took six wickets in Australia’s second innings as well.

3. 6/59 vs Australia, Galle, 2022

Prabath Jayasuriya routed Pat Cummins’ side in the second innings of the second test in Galle in 2022 with a sensational bowling performance, in which he took six wickets while conceding 59 runs. The visitors were bowled out for only 151 and the hosts won by an innings.

The left-arm spinner duly bagged the Player of the Match award.

2. 6/42 vs New Zealand, Galle, 2024

Sri Lanka made light work of New Zealand’s first innings in the second test of the home series in 2024. In reply to Sri Lanka’s mammoth total of 602, the Kiwis were bundled for only 88 runs as Jayasuriya ran through their batting order with figures of 18-6-42-6. This included the wickets of Kane Williamson, Devon Conway, and Daryl Mitchell.

1. 7/52 vs Ireland, Galle, 2023

Prabath Jayasuriya’s best bowling figures in test cricket came against Ireland in the first Galle test of the series in 2023, when the left-arm spinner took a seven-wicket haul.

The hosts posted a huge total of 591 in their first innings. In reply, Ireland were knocked over for only 143 runs as Jayasuriya claimed seven scalps. This is his first and only seven-wicket haul in test cricket so far. He snapped three wickets in Ireland’s second innings after Sri Lanka enforced the follow-on. Sri Lanka won by an innings and 280 runs.

(All stats updated till 28 September 2024.)

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