- Lanka make 302/7
Sri Lankan batsman Kamindu Mendis scored his fourth Test Century while playing against New Zealand in the first Test at Galle, and he also equaled a world Test record by scoring 50-plus runs in each of his first seven matches.
By stumps, Sri Lanka batting first were 302 for 7 thanks to the sterling knocks by the Mendis duo.
Kamindu thus broke Michael Vandort’s record for fastest Sri Lankan batter to reach four Tests hundreds, in just 11 innings, thus equaling Don Bradman’s record.
Sri Lanka taking first lease of the Galle pitch after winning the toss were 302/7 at stumps courtesy of contrasting knocks by Kamindu Mendis (114) and Kusal Mendis (50) batting at number seven.
The duo shared a 103-run stand for the sixth wicket after the Lankan top-order limped to 5-178 at one stage as Kiwi new-ball bowler William O’Rourke (3/54) combined with his captain Tim Southee to give the early impetus to the tourists.
Opener Pathum Nissanka (27), fresh from his heroics against England at the KIA Oval – where Sri Lanka won by eight-wickets in the third and final Test early this month – Dinesh Chandimal (30) and Angelo Mathews (36), all made starts but could not press onto big scores.
The Kiwi bowlers threatened to bowl out the home team cheaply when the two Mendis’s got together to launch a counterpunch and revive the faltering Lankan innings.
Kamindu’s 114 was spiced with 11 boundaries and came off 173 deliveries while Kusal’s sparkling half-ton was studded with seven fours and materialised off only 68 balls as they responded in cavalier fashion to propel the hosts to a fighting first innings total.
Before stumps though the Black Caps struck back to remove both but with Ramesh Mendis – the third Mendis in the playing XI – unbeaten on 14, the Lankans will hope their tail will wag effectively to enable them to reach a challenging total in excess of 375 and beyond.
For the New Zealanders O’Rourke was the pick of the bowlers with 3/54 while off-spinner Glenn Phillips claimed 2/52 but their two frontline spinners Ajaz Patel and the more experienced Mitchel Santner proved less effective on the opening day.
Kamindu Mendis batting at number five after being promoted, joined an elite club, equalling a world Test record by becoming only the second batter to score 50-plus runs in each of his first seven Test matches.
Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel is the only other cricketer to have achieved this remarkable feat.
Kamindu reached this milestone during the first day of the opening Test against New Zealand in Galle, scoring his eighth 50-plus in Tests.
His achievement surpassed cricketing greats like Sunil Gavaskar (India), Saeed Ahmed (Pakistan), and Basil Butcher (West Indies), who all managed fifties in each of their first six Test matches.
This record follows Kamindu’s impressive series against England, where he scored 113, 74, and 64 in a series of stellar performances.
After making his Test debut in 2022 against Australia with a solid 61, Mendis was sidelined for nearly two years but returned in 2024 with back-to-back centuries in Bangladesh.
In Galle, Mendis brought up his fifty off 73 balls and added a crucial 72-run partnership with Angelo Mathews.
(Agencies)