Sri Lankan batter Kamindu Mendis shines with an impressive century against New Zealand
Galle [Sri Lanka], September 19: Kamindu Mendis of Sri Lanka achieved his fourth Test century in just his seventh match, scoring 114 runs off 173 balls against New Zealand at Galle on Wednesday.
Following his impressive performance in England, Mendis was promoted to number 5. His innings helped Sri Lanka to a solid position of 302/7 by the end of Day One in the first Test at Galle International Stadium.
Mendis was the last Sri Lankan wicket to fall on the first day when a delivery from Ajaz Patel struck his gloves and was caught in the slip cordon.
Mendis has now made a fifty or more in each of his first seven Tests, setting a world record in this format, which he shares with Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel.
Though he has scored centuries in Sylhet, Manchester, and Galle, Mendis regards this innings as particularly special.
"This is my hometown, and my old school, Richmond College, is here," Mendis said after the day's play, according to ICC.Â
"I was determined to score a hundred here, but as a batsman, you shouldn’t be satisfied with just a hundred. You need to aim for more. Unfortunately, I got out," he added.
Mendis has made an extraordinary start to his Test career, accumulating 809 runs in 11 innings at an impressive average of 80.9, the highest for any batter with a minimum of 10 Test innings, according to ICC.
In the current World Test Championship cycle, Mendis holds the best batting average, with 748 runs in 10 innings at 83.11, including four centuries. Only Joe Root has scored more centuries (5) in this World Test Championship cycle.
Mendis, who debuted with a score of 61 against Australia in 2022, continued his remarkable form with scores of 102 and 164 in Sylhet, and an unbeaten 92 in Chattogram against Bangladesh. He also scored 113 at Old Trafford, 74 at Lord’s, and 64 at The Oval against England, contributing to Sri Lanka's first Test victory on English soil in a decade.