New Zealand collapsed to a record low against Sri Lanka, being dismissed for 88 during their first innings at Galle.

At the close of day one, New Zealand were 22-2 in response to Sri Lanka's imposing first-innings total of 602-5, with Kane Williamson and Ajaz Patel at the crease. Williamson was dismissed early on day two, caught at slip off the bowling of Prabath Jayasuriya.

His dismissal triggered a collapse, as New Zealand's batters fell in quick succession. Rachin Ravindra was bowled around his legs, Tom Blundell and Glenn Phillips fell to close-in catches, and Daryl Mitchell was caught at long-on. By the time Mitchell Santner, who top-scored with 29, became the last to fall, New Zealand had lost eight wickets in the session to be bowled out for 88. Prabath Jayasuriya starred with the ball, taking 6-42.

As a result, New Zealand conceded a massive first-innings lead of 514 runs and were asked to follow on by Sri Lanka.

It was the second-highest first-innings lead Sri Lanka have taken in Test cricket. Their highest lead of 587 runs came against South Africa in 2006.

Santner was the only New Zealand batter to pass 20, with eight batters registering single-digit scores. New Zealand were eventually bowled out for 88, their lowest-ever Test total against Sri Lanka. Their previous lowest against the same opposition was 102, set in December 1992.

They were forced to follow on, marking the first instance since April 2023 of a team being asked to follow on in Test cricket. The last such instance involved Ireland, who followed on against Sri Lanka at this very venue.

New Zealand’s Second-Lowest Test Total in a Decade

This was also New Zealand’s second-lowest total in more than a decade. The side managed just 62 runs against India at the Wankhede Stadium in 2021, which remains their lowest Test score since the start of 2014.

The only other occasion in the past decade where New Zealand failed to reach 100 runs was against Pakistan in 2018, when they were bowled out for 90.