Sri Lanka 102-1 at lunch on the 1st day of the 2nd cricket test against New Zealand

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Sri Lanka lost opener Pathum Nissanka in the first over but recovered and was 102 for one at lunch on the first day of the second cricket test against New Zealand on Thursday.

Dinesh Chandimal, promoted to No. 3 from his usual position at five, scored his second half-century in the series. He remained unbeaten on 60 at lunch, having struck nine boundaries off 99 balls.

Chandimal was involved in a crucial partnership of 100 runs for the second wicket with Dimuth Karunaratne, who was not out on 40.

This partnership helped consolidate Sri Lanka’s position after it won the toss as it aims for a first series win against New Zealand since 2009. Sri Lanka leads the two-match series 1-0 after winning the first test by 63 runs.

Chandimal took a nasty blow to his helmet from William O’Rourke but continued without trouble.

Currently placed third in the World Test Championship, Sri Lanka will be looking to strengthen its standing with a win. Galle has been a friendly venue for Sri Lanka, where the the home side has won 25 of the 43 matches played.

Sri Lanka made two changes from its win in the first test, also at Galle, with all-rounder Milan Rathnayake coming in for fast bowler Lahiru Kumara and Nishan Peiris replacing Ramesh Mendis.

Peiris was making his test debut, while Ratnayake was recalled for his all-round abilities.

New Zealand retained an unchanged lineup as it bids to continue an unbeaten streak in the last six test series against Sri Lanka.

Following defeat in the first test, New Zealand slipped from third to fourth in the WTC rankings. A win in the second test would allow the Kiwis to reclaim third spot.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

New Zealand's captain Tim Southee runs off the field as it rains during the day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle , Sri Lanka, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal watches his shot during the day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle , Sri Lanka, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

New Zealand's wicketkeeper Tom Blundell celebrates taking catch to dismiss Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka during the day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle , Sri Lanka, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

New Zealand's captain Tim Southee runs off the field as it rains during the day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle , Sri Lanka, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

New Zealand's Devon Conway runs to field a ball during the day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle , Sri Lanka, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne plays a shot as New Zealand's Tom Blundell watches during the day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

New Zealand's wicketkeeper Tom Blundell misses a possible stumping chance to dismiss Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne during the day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal celebrates his fifty runs during the day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

New Zealand's captain Tim Southee celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka with his team mates during the day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle , Sri Lanka, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal plays a shot during the day one of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka, right, tries unsuccessfully to catch New Zealand's Tom Blundell, second left, out on the second day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)

MAGDEBURG, Germany (AP) — Germany on Saturday was still in shock and struggling to understand the suspect behind the attack in the city of Magdeburg.

Identified by local media as 50-year-old Taleb A., a psychiatry and psychotherapy specialist, authorities said he has been living in Germany for two decades. He was arrested on site after plowing a black BMW into a Christmas market crowded with holiday shoppers Friday evening, killing at least five people and wounding about 200 others.

Prominent German terrorism expert Peter Neumann posted on X that he had yet to come across a suspect in an act of mass violence with that profile.

Taleb’s X account is filled with tweets and retweets focusing on anti-Islam themes and criticism of the religion while sharing congratulatory notes to Muslims who left the faith. He also described himself as a former Muslim.

He was critical of German authorities, saying they had failed to do enough to combat the “Islamism of Europe.”

He has also voiced support for the far-right and anti-immigrant Alternative for Germany (AfD) party.

Some described Taleb as an activist who helped Saudi women flee their homeland. Recently, he seemed focused on his theory that German authorities have been targeting Saudi asylum seekers.

Neumann, the terrorism expert, wrote: “After 25 years in this ‘business’ you think nothing could surprise you anymore. But a 50-year-old Saudi ex-Muslim who lives in East Germany, loves the AfD and wants to punish Germany for its tolerance towards Islamists — that really wasn’t on my radar."

A person stands by flowers and candles placed outside St. John's Church near a Christmas Market, where a car drove into a crowd on Friday evening, in Magdeburg, Germany, Saturday, Dec. 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Ebrahim Noroozi)