Twitter Reactions: Centurions Paul Stirling and Curtis Campher steer Ireland towards humongous total on Day 2

Courtesy of scintillating tons by Paul Stirling and Curtis Campher, Ireland extended their domination against Sri Lanka on Day 2 of the ongoing Galle Test and registered 492 runs in their first innings. This is also Ireland's highest-ever Test score as they whizzed past their previous best of 339 that they had scored versus Pakistan at Malahide. Ireland kickstarted Day 2 with a score of 319/4 with Campher and Lorcan Tucker on the crease. 

Sri Lanka struck the first blow of the day as Vishwa Fernando got the vital scalp of Tucker, who was sent packing for 80 off 106 balls. Paul Stirling took the field after he had retired hurt due to cramps on an unbeaten score of 74 on Day 1.

The duo of Stirling and Campher combined caution with aggression and kept the visiting team steady in the contest, on course for a massive first innings total. Soon after the drinks session, the two batters raised 50 runs in 87 balls between them but slowed down a bit, playing delicately prior to Lunch.

Stirling did a terrific job with the bat and notched up his century off 174 balls with nine fours and four maximums to his name. However, his outstanding knock came to a screeching halt when he holed out to Dhananjaya de Silva at the fine leg boundary for a score of 103 off 181 balls.

Soon after his dismissal, Campher continued to carve out a brilliant innings and took the Irish side to 452/6. With 14 boundaries and two maximums, Campher notched up his first century for Ireland in the red-ball format.

He also raised an impressive 89-run stand with Andy McBrine, who joined him down the order. However, Prabath Jayasuriya who once again was the most menacing among the bowling unit, got the prized scalp of Campher (111 runs off 229 balls).

Impressively, the 31-year-old spinner returned a five-wicket haul in his 58.3 overs. With a strong performance by the visitors, it remains to be seen if theIR bowling department can extend the domination in the second innings.

Here is how Twitter reacted-

Niall John O Brien@niallnobiobrien

What a couple of days for my Irish ☘️ stars , raise that bat young man @curtis_campher 👏👏👏

02:51 PM · Apr 25, 2023

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ICC@ICC

A maiden Test century for Curtis Campher 👏 Follow #SLvIRE: bit.ly/3V2iVvk

01:52 PM · Apr 25, 2023

1.3K46

ICC@ICC

A maiden Test century for Curtis Campher 👏 Follow #SLvIRE: bit.ly/3V2iVvk

Tom Gravestone@Whygravestone

@ICC What a maiden 100 young man. So proud for you

01:54 PM · Apr 25, 2023

20

Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰@OfficialSLC

Another 🖐️-wicket haul for Prabath Jayasuriya 💐 #SLvIRE #LionsRoar

03:25 PM · Apr 25, 2023

30

Cricket Ireland@cricketireland

💯 for Curtis Campher! A maiden international century, an incredible innings in the heat! Take a bow 🙌 WATCH: bit.ly/3A3f73c SCORE: bit.ly/3TtV3zN 📸 @OfficialSLC | #BackingGreen ☘🏏 #SRIvIRE

01:52 PM · Apr 25, 2023

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CricTracker@Cricketracker

Paul Stirling gets his maiden test century against Sri Lanka and becomes the second Irish batter to score a ton in all three formats. #PaulStirling #Test #SLvsIRE #CricTracker

12:16 PM · Apr 25, 2023

1002

Mohammad Usama Warraich@m_usama58

Ireland have made a strong comeback in the second Test. Paul Stirling with a hundred in Test is amusing. It will be tougher for Sri Lanka to win the match. Hope the match unfolds interestingly. #SLvsIRE

12:55 PM · Apr 25, 2023

00

Sushant@RedDevilsSupptr

Quite an achievement by Ireland to almost get 500 on a SL pitch. #SLvsIRE

03:09 PM · Apr 25, 2023

00

Sanjeewa K.@SanjeewaKUK22

#SLvsIRE | Some Solid Partnerships by Ireland batters in Galle despite soaring heat. 📝 Balbirnie & Tector 46(82) 📝 Balbirnie & Stirling 115*(223) 📝 Campher & Tucker 89(140) 📝 Stirling & Campher 64(106) 📝 McBrine & Campher 89(158) @cricketireland 492/10 (145.3 Overs)

03:09 PM · Apr 25, 2023

10

𐍃𐌵𐌱𐌷𐌻𐌽𐌺𐌻𐍂@Suvhu0854

Test hundred for Paul Stirling. He had cramps, retired hurt then came back to bat and completed his maiden Test hundred with Six. He has Hundred in Test, ODI & T20I - One of the Greats of Ireland.

02:08 PM · Apr 25, 2023

10

அருண்@I_Arun7

Paul Stirling is a proper legend...What a decorated career he's had and cherry on top A Test Hundred in Asia #IrevsSl

02:05 PM · Apr 25, 2023

00

Md Ifran Ali Bijoy 🇧🇩@IfranAliBijoy20

Ireland batsman Paul Stirling became the 23rd player in the world to score a century in all three formats by scoring a century in a Test against Sri Lanka today. #IREVSL #cricket #test #century #icc #world

02:00 PM · Apr 25, 2023

10

Cricket Ireland@cricketireland

A maiden Test match century for Paul Stirling! Brought up in fitting style with a six 💥 Sensational innings, he now has centuries in all formats of international cricket 👏👏 WATCH: bit.ly/3A3f73c SCORE: bit.ly/3TtV3zN #BackingGreen ☘🏏 #SRIvIRE

Udhaikumar Mohan@udhaimohan44

@cricketireland Paul Stirling is a legend.

01:58 PM · Apr 25, 2023

00

Johns.@CricCrazyJohns

Test hundred for Paul Stirling. He had cramps, retired hurt then came back to bat and completed his maiden Test hundred with Six. He has Hundred in Test, ODI & T20I - One of the Greats of Ireland.

Govind Nishad@klassyrahulfans

@CricCrazyJohns This guy deserves a ipl contract

11:42 AM · Apr 25, 2023

10

Cricket Ireland@cricketireland

End of the innings. Incredible from the team, we finish on 492 all-out. Time for a bowl. WATCH: bit.ly/3A3f73c SCORE: bit.ly/3TtV3zN 📸 @OfficialSLC | #BackingGreen ☘🏏 #SRIvIRE

02:56 PM · Apr 25, 2023

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