WTC 2023-25 Standings After SL vs NZ 1st Test: Sri Lanka Leapfrog New Zealand To Keep Final Hopes Alive

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Sri Lanka moved a position in the World Test Championship (WTC) 2023-25 standings after a 68-run win over New Zealand in the first Test of the two-match series at Galle International Stadium in Galle on Monday (September 23).

Prabath Jayasuriya and Kamindu Mendis stood out as Dhananjaya de Silva's Sri Lanka side defeated Tim Southee-led New Zealand to take a 1-0 unassailable lead in the two-match series.

Opting to bat first, Kamindu Mendis' century (114) helped Sri Lanka post 305 in the first innings after William O'Rourke (5 for 55) had given New Zealand a good start with the ball. Kusal Mendis also contributed with a fifty for the hosts.

The visitors fought back through fifties from Tom Latham (70), Kane Williamson (55) and Daryl Mitchell (57) to take a first innings of 35 runs after posting a total of 340. Jayasuriya was the pick of the bowlers for Sri Lanka with figures of 4 for 136.

The home side then rode on fifties from senior trio of Dimuth Karunaratne (83), Dinesh Chandimal (61) and Angelo Mathews (50) to set a target of 275 despite Ajaz Patel's bowling performance of 6 for 90.

In the final innings of the Test, Rachin Ravindra's fighting 92 went in vain after Jayasuriya (5 for 68) and Ramesh Mendis (3 for 83) bundled out the visitors for 211 in the first session of day 5.

As a result of the 63-run win in Galle, Sri Lanka leapfrogged New Zealand to third spot in the WTC standings and stand the best chance of challenging the 2023 World Test Championship finalists for a spot in the 2025 final.

With four wins in eight matches, Sri Lanka moved even 50% of possible WTC points, with a best possible percentage of 69.23% for Dhananjaya de Silva's men. The Blackcaps dropped to fourth following their fourth defeat in seven Tests.

Earlier, India stregnthened their top spot on the World Test Championship points table, and moved ever closer to sealing their third successive WTC final berth with a victory over Bangladesh in Chennai, which saw their win percentage improve to 71.67.

Bangladesh, on the other hand, dropped to sixth on the standings following the defeat that saw their win-loss percentage reduce to 39.29. Here is a look at the latest WTC standings:

WTC 2023-25 Standings After SL vs NZ 1st Test on September 23, 2024

Sri Lanka will have a chance to strengthen their chances of getting closer to a top two spot when they play the second Test against New Zealand, who can also move back to the third spot with a win in the Galle Test, scheduled to start on Thursday (September 26).

Bangladesh also will look to pull of an impossible result as they aim to get back in the top four when they face pace-setters India in the second Test, scheduled to be held at Kanpur from September 27.

India will face New Zealand in a home series in October when Pakistan will play hosts to England. Here is a look at the Test matches of the WTC 2023-25 cycle scheduled for remainder of September and the month of October:

WTC Matches Schedule For September to October 2024

• September 26-30: Sri Lanka vs New Zealand 2nd Test - Galle
• September 27-October 1: India vs Bangladesh 2nd Test - Kanpur
• October 7-11: Pakistan vs England 1st Test - Multan
• October 15-19: Pakistan vs England 2nd Test - Multan
• October 16-20: India vs New Zealand 1st Test - Bengaluru
• October 24-28: Pakistan vs England 3rd Test - Rawalpindi
• October 24-28: India vs New Zealand 2nd Test - Pune