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William O’Rourke, a name that has been steadily gaining prominence in the New Zealand cricket landscape, showcased his exceptional talent against Sri Lanka in the first Test of the two-match series. Filling in the footsteps of Kyle Jamieson, O’Rourke has emerged as a formidable force in the Kiwi bowling attack. His performances in his first two Tests have been nothing short of sensational, earning him widespread acclaim.
A dream performance by William O’Rourke in Galle
O’Rourke’s maiden Test series in Asia at Galle, was a dream come true. In his very first match on Asian soil, he demonstrated his class and potential, becoming the second-youngest pacer in Test history to claim a five-wicket haul. His ability to extract bounce and movement from the pitch, even in challenging conditions, was evident throughout the innings.
O’Rourke’s wicket-taking prowess was on full display as he dismantled the Sri Lankan batting lineup. His ability to swing the ball both ways, combined with his deceptive pace, made it difficult for the batters to adapt. Dimuth Karunaratne, the experienced Sri Lankan opener, fell victim to O’Rourke’s swing, providing the Kiwi pacer with a dream start.
Also WATCH: Glenn Phillips bowls an ripper to dismiss Dhananjaya de Silva on Day 1 of the first Test
A deadly yorker to dismiss Pathum Nissanka
O’Rourke’s repertoire extends beyond swing bowling. He also possesses the ability to deliver deadly yorkers. Pathum Nissanka, another Sri Lankan opener, was left bamboozled by a perfectly executed yorker, which resulted in his dismissal. O’Rourke’s accuracy and control were on show as he consistently targeted the stumps, making life difficult for the batters.
Continuing his impressive spell, O’Rourke trapped Angelo Mathews outside the off-stump, demonstrating his ability to swing the ball both ways. The Sri Lankan tail was no match for O’Rourke’s relentless pressure, as he wrapped up the innings by dismissing Ramesh Mendis and Asitha Fernando.
A gloomy start to Sri Lanka’s play on Day 2
Sri Lanka reached 302/7 at the end of the Day 1, but lost Prabath Jayasuriya shortly after the lunch break, trapped before the stumps by Ajaz Patel. Rain interrupted play for 45 minutes not long after, and when the action resumed, O’Rourke continued his impressive form. He dismissed Mendis and Fernando, adding two more wickets to his tally. Sri Lanka managed just three runs during this period but lost three wickets, highlighting the dominance of the New Zealand bowlers. The hosts have scored 305 runs in the first innings of Galle.
