Kamindu Mendis Shines with Maiden Century at Home in Test Match Against New Zealand

Kamindu Mendis has emerged as a promising talent for Sri Lanka, securing his fourth Test century in just his seventh appearance in this format. The young batter showcased his skills during the first Test match against New Zealand at the Galle Cricket Club. The 25-year-old, traditionally batting lower, was promoted to number five due to teammate Angelo Mathews sustaining an injury, and he seized the opportunity with a remarkable performance.

On the opening day of the Test series, Sri Lanka elected to bat first; however, they faced early challenges with their score collapsing to 106-4. In a crucial innings, Mendis managed to stabilise the situation, helping the hosts achieve a score of 302-7 by the end of the day. Mendis reached his century with a decisive shot off 145 balls, receiving applause from spectators and teammates alike at the Galle International Stadium.

New Zealand’s pace attack was led by William O'Rourke, who took three crucial wickets with an aggressive bowling display, using a combination of swing and bounce. Sri Lankan openers, Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka, struggled to maintain a solid start, succumbing to O’Rourke’s deliveries. The situation further deteriorated when Angelo Mathews had to briefly leave the field after being hit on his index finger by another O’Rourke delivery.

Adding to Sri Lanka’s woes, Dinesh Chandimal fell to New Zealand captain Tim Southee, while Sri Lankan captain, Dhananjaya de Silva, managed only 11 runs before being dismissed by Glenn Phillips. Despite early losses, Mendis found an able partner in Kusal Mendis, helping to alleviate pressure as they added 103 runs together. Kusal Mendis made 50 before his unusual dismissal by a catch that ricocheted off a fielder’s body.

Kamindu Mendis’s innings concluded when spinner Ajaz Patel exploited the uneven bounce from footmarks, leading to a catch by Daryl Mitchell. As the day closed, Ramesh Mendis was not out on 14, while Prabath Jayasuriya awaited his opportunity at the crease.