Wed Sep 18 04:39:55 UTC 2024: ## Sri Lanka Elects to Bat First in Galle Test
**Galle, Sri Lanka:** The first Test match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand kicked off today at Galle International Stadium, with the hosts opting to bat first after winning the toss.
Sri Lankan skipper Dhananjaya de Silva expressed his team’s desire to bat first, citing the difficulty of batting in the fourth innings in Galle. He highlighted the presence of two specialist spinners and two fast bowlers in the team, indicating their strategy to exploit the conditions.
New Zealand captain Tim Southee, on the other hand, revealed that they would have preferred to bat first, particularly with the presence of two spinners and multiple batters capable of bowling spin. He emphasized their eagerness to get back into Test cricket.
The pitch at Galle, according to pitch commentator Farveez Maharoof, is expected to offer movement for the new ball during the first 30-45 minutes, with ample grass on the surface. He added that the pitch is still a “bat first” pitch, urging teams to target a score between 400 and 450 to capitalize on the spinners later in the innings.
The first over of the match saw a tight battle between Tim Southee and Dimuth Karunaratne, with the latter managing to score a couple of runs. Pathum Nissanka, who was on the other end, survived a near-LBW shout and subsequently struck a boundary off an inside edge.
Sri Lanka’s opening pair of Karunaratne and Nissanka will be looking to build a solid foundation for their team, while the New Zealand bowlers will be keen to make early breakthroughs in the challenging Galle conditions.
First Piper 