Kamindu Mendis has had a meteoric rise to his Test career. The Sri Lankan batter Kamindu Mendis has created several records in his short career, equalling the legendary Sir Don Bradman in two major records. Kamindu Mendis also helped his team register a massive record against New Zealand in the 2nd Test in Galle.
Kamindu Mendis’ sensational start to Test cricket continues as the left-handed batter took Sri Lanka to a massive record en route to his historical feats in the second Test against New Zealand in Galle. Kamindu Mendis became the third-fastest batter to hit 1000 Test runs, joining the list featuring the likes of Sir Don Bradman, Herbert Sutcliffe and Sir Everton Weekes. Kamindu Mendis is tied with Bradman on 13 innings to get to 1000 Test runs and is only behind Sutcliffe and Weekes, both of who reached the mark in just 12 innings.
For Sri Lanka, it was a day of big numbers. Kamindu Mendis became the fastest man to 1000 Test runs in 75 years when he struck 182 not out. He equaled Don Bradman’s pace to the milestone, and sits third-equal alongside the greatest batter cricket has ever seen.
Day 2 : Morning Session : Kamindu Mendis extends Sri Lanka’s domination
Kamindu Mendis and Dananjaya de Silva extended Sri Lanka’s strong batting performance for the second day in a row. The duo put on an 74-run stand before the latter top edged a sweep at the stroke of Lunch. Phillips had struck in similar fashion, getting Angelo Mathews early in the day off a miscued sweep. Both batters missed out on personal milestones but had given Kamindu Mendis good support to help extend Sri Lanka’s position.
Kamindu Mendis, in typically prolific fashion, stood seven short of what could be his fifth ton in seven Tests. The left-hander remained circumspect in the session alongside De Silva, who had quickly gotten off the blocks. A loft off Phillips for six signaled his intention early and reversed any pressure brought on by the early departure of Mathews. The sweep was also an ally in earning him boundaries along the way, even encouraging Kamindu Mendis to bring out a reverse sweep at one point.
For New Zealand, Phillips remained a constant presence right through the session, getting appreciable drift on occasions to beat the right-hander. Mendis survived an LBW review against the offspinner with the arm ball sliding down the legside. He remained the biggest threat for both the batters while both Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner were played with relatively lesser discomfort on a surface that didn’t possess any demons.
Glenn Phillips struck twice in the first session which gave New Zealand some cheer amongst an otherwise strong batting display from Sri Lanka.
Kamindu Mendis’s progress from 51 overnight was largely in the morning session, in which he moved to 93. He scored heavily square of the wicket, as usual, rarely going several balls without finding a scoring shot. Through this period Phillips always seemed the likeliest bowler to get a wicket, thanks in part to the work he was putting on the ball.
In fact, Phillips would get two, both off top edges as Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva attempted sweep shots. Mathews had added only ten to his overnight 78, before de Silva made 44 in Kamindu Mendis’s company.
Day 2 : Post Lunch Session : Kamindu Mendis gets fifth Test ton as SL dominate
Kamindu Mendis got his fifth Test ton in just his 13th innings as he lit up his hometown of Galle. As he got to his second ton in a row in the series, Sri Lanka marched on towards a massive 519 runs by the Tea interval on the second day.
In what has been a commanding performance, New Zealand were made to work for their wickets with Kusal Mendis hitting a half-century after Dhananjaya de Silva missed his by six runs. The day had started on a positive note for the visitors after Glenn Phillips had Angelo Mathews top-edging a sweep early in the day. While Mathews missed his ton by 12 runs, there was no stopping Kamindu Mendis, who brought up his record-breaking ton shortly after the Lunch interval.
Kamindu Mendis and De Silva had extended Sri Lanka’s strong batting performance for the second day adding 74-run stand after the early departure of Mathews. While Kamindu Mendis was circumspect in the first session alongside De Silva, had quickly gotten off the blocks.
A loft off Phillips for six signaled his intention early and the sweep was also an ally in earning him boundaries along the way, even encouraging Kamindu Mendis to bring out a reverse sweep at one point. But just as the duo were beginning to assert their position, De Silva became Phillips’ second wicket of the session, falling to a sweep just like Mathews.
Kamindu Mendis brought up his milestone after the break but soon had a few close shouts surviving a review for LBW, a missed stumping chance and then overturning a caught call as the spinners began to get some purchase off the surface. But alongside, Kusal Mendis, he waded through the phase by reverting the pressure back on the spinners. Whenever there was a chance for a loft, he took it cleanly and the confidence began to rub off on his partner. Kusal brought up his fifty going 4,6,4 against Phillips toying with the offie’s lengths.
For New Zealand, Phillips had remained a constant presence right through the first session, getting appreciable drift on occasions to beat the right-hander. However, he too was put to the sword afterwards as the Mendis duo went in to Tea with an unbeaten 117-run stand.
But after lunch, Sri Lanka had it almost entirely their way. Kamindu Mendis moved unfussy to a fifth Test hundred and celebrated with trademark reserve. Kusal started slowly as New Zealand put together some tight spells after lunch – Mitchell Santner bowling with particular control – before he too began to find run-scoring easier, particularly thanks to his strong sweep shot.
He made only 24 off his first 71 balls, with only one four on his ledger. But with batting to come, and Sri Lanka’s total growing gigantic now, he began to attack, going after Phillips first, as he got to his fifty in an over that he struck two fours and a six in, before settling into a more positive outlook in general. Twice he launched Ajaz Patel, who went wicketless in the innings and conceded 135, over deep midwicket for six. Kamindu Mendis also launched Ajaz down the ground for a six. The pair batted right through the middle session, going to tea at 135 and 70.
Day 2 : Afternoon Session : Record-breaking Kamindu Mendis puts Sri Lanka in command on Day 2
Kamindu Mendis became the fastest Asian batter to get to 1000 Test runs en route a career-best 182* – his fifth Test ton in eight games – as Sri Lanka’s batters ran New Zealand ragged on the second day at Galle. Kusal Mendis became the third centurion in the innings as Sri Lanka racked up a massive 602/5 before declaring in the final session.
The Mendis duo added 200 runs for the sixth wicket before Dhananjaya de Silva called them in soon after Kamindu Mendis got to his 1000th run. Getting there in just 13 innings put him alongside Don Bradman as the joint second-quickest to the feat. (Everton Weekes and Herbert Sutcliffe had got there an innings earlier). Joining an elite club aside, Kamindu Mendis got his highest Test score of 182 which pushed Sri Lanka to a position of dominance.
Right through the innings, Kamindu Mendis had good support at the other end. He put on 127 with Angelo Mathews, 74 with Dhananjaya de Silva before the double hundred stand with Kusal. The wicket-keeper batter also registered his 10th Test ton to cap off a dominant batting display from Sri Lanka.
New Zealand managed to pick two wickets in the first session with both Mathews and De Silva falling to the sweep against Glenn Phillips. But thereafter, even as the pitch began to take some turn, Kamindu Mendis and Kusal took control. Against a tiring attack, Kusal’s bravado hit the right tempo right away.
Whenever there was a chance for a loft, Kamindu Mendis took it cleanly hitting four sixes in the process and the confidence began to rub off on his partner. Kusal brought up his fifty going 4,6,4 against Phillips toying with the offie’s lengths.
This was in contrast to how Kamindu Mendis had started the day after the early departure of Mathews. He was circumspect in the partnership with De Silva, who on the other hand got off the blocks quickly. A loft off Phillips for six signaled De Silva’s intentions early while the sweep was an ally in multiple boundaries along the way, even encouraging Kamindu Mendis to bring out a reverse sweep at one point. But just as the duo were beginning to assert their position, De Silva became Phillips’ second wicket of the session.
Kamindu Mendis brought up his fifth Test ton, in just his eighth match, after the break but soon had a few close shouts and also survived a review for LBW, a missed stumping chance and then overturned a caught call as the spinners began to get some purchase off the surface. But with Sri Lanka in a strong position already, he and Kusal began to revert the pressure towards the spinner
Phillips, who had remained a constant presence right through the first session, getting appreciable drift on occasions to beat the right-hander, was also put to the sword by the duo later with little to no threat thereafter.
It was in sharp contrast to the purchase that Sri Lanka’s spinners managed when they got their chance, managing to kick up puffs of dust from the surface before Prabhat Jayasuriya had Devon Conway caught at slip. Already pegged back by the dismissal of Tom Latham – who poked and edged Asitha Fernando – New Zealand were left in dire straits by the end of the day.
The evening was about notching milestones – Kamindu Mendis making the second 150 of his career, before Kusal strode to his century, off 148 balls in the end. After that it was about letting Kamindu Mendis get to 178, so he could surpass the 1000-run career tally. Captain de Silva declared soon as Kamindu Mendis had launched Ravindra down the ground for the six that got him there.
New Zealand faced a testing spell from Asitha Fernando first up, as the bowler got substantial late swing in to the left-handed openers. One of these balls moved back in to Latham in the first over, took his edge and flew to gully, where Pathum Nissanka gobbled it up.
The dismissal of the struggling Conway in the ninth over of the innings was not as straightforward. Conway had defended at a turning ball from Prabhat Jayasuriya, with the bowler and wicketkeeper appealing immediately – seemingly for the lbw. Umpire Nitin Menon gave Conway out, but when the batter reviewed, there was an obvious outside edge, before the ball struck thigh pad.
However, after it struck pad, the ball had flown to de Silva at slip, who seemingly took a low catch. The replays did not conclusively show that he had his fingers under that ball, though it was close. The third umpire ruled it out, however, much to Conway’s displeasure. Such was the amount of turn Sri Lanka’s spinners were generating towards the end of the day, even Kane Williamson struggled. He was 6 off 42 at stumps, alongside nightwatchman Ajaz.
Road Ahead on Day 3 for SL and NZ
Sri Lanka have amassed a mammoth 602 for the loss of just 5 wickets. New Zealand will be tired and sore after spending nearly two days on the field and after bowling 163.4 overs. Sri Lanka just ground them to dust with three centurions, first it was Chandimal and then the duo of Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis.
The former reaching a rare milestone as he got to 1000 Test runs in just 13 innings, joining a rare bunch and when he got there, immediately Sri Lanka declared. Also contributions from Karunaratne, DdS and Mathews – who fell just short of his 100. Only Nissanka missed out. This is a massive score and all the pressure will now be on New Zealand first to see out this day and then for the next three days as well.
Everyone in the Sri Lankan camp are congratulating Kamindu Mendis. He made history as he became the third-fastest ever to get to 1000 runs – doing so in just 13 innings. Joining an elite list in the process. Another day that New Zealand would want to forget. They were put to the sword by both the Mendis’s. Both got to 100s and if not for the declaration which came an hour late one feels, Kamindu might have got to 200 even.
Kamindu Mendis has also become the joint-third fastest to hit his first five Test centuries, equalling Bradman and George Headley to get there in 13 innings. Everton Weekes (10), Herbert Sutcliffe (12) and Robert Harvey (12) are the only players to be ranked higher than him in this record.
While he achieved personal milestones, Kamindu Mendis played a big part in helping Sri Lanka create history against New Zealand in the second Test match. For the first time in their history, Sri Lanka have managed to score 500 runs against New Zealand in the Test format. The two teams are facing each other in the format since 1983 and this marks the only occasion where the Lankan side has breached the elusive mark. The Lankan Lions’ previous highest Test score against the Blackcaps was 498, which they made in April 2005.
Just the two wickets for New Zealand to show today and they toiled and toiled for almost 164 overs. Southee tried everything including Mitchell’s medium-pace but it was the offspin of Phillips who finished with a 3-fer. And when they came out to bat, New Zealand lost Latham first over and then Conway soon after. Already Prabhat Jayasuriya looks dangerous as he got the ball to turn square against Williamson. Won’t be easy from hereon in. What will be New Zealand’s response tomorrow
Two quick wickets in the last over has left New Zealand in a real pickle at 22/2 after spending the better part of the first two days on the field. Both their openers are back in the hut as Sri Lanka seem in complete control of this Test match. A crucial morning coming up for the Kiwis where they really need to build some big partnerships to get back in the contest. The cracks might start to get from prominent from day three, as the Sri Lankan spinners will look to get in the game.