Kamindu Mendis displayed exceptional skill with a determined century, helping Sri Lanka reach a solid 302 for seven by the end of the first day of the Test match against New Zealand on Wednesday.
The Sri Lankan team found themselves in a tough spot at 106 for four shortly after lunch. However, Mendis, who was named player of the series during Sri Lanka’s recent tour of England, anchored the innings with his composed approach. His impressive score of 114 ended just before stumps when he was caught off Ajaz Patel’s bowling.
“This hundred is particularly special as it was scored in my hometown,” Mendis shared after the day’s play. “I wish I could have converted it into a bigger score, but I couldn’t do much about that delivery.”
As an all-rounder recognized for his unique ambidextrous batting and bowling, Mendis has already made a significant mark in his seventh Test match, amassing over 800 runs, including four centuries and four half-centuries.
Sri Lanka faced a tricky situation at 178 for five heading into the tea break, but a crucial 103-run partnership between Kamindu and Kusal Mendis changed the momentum of the game. Kusal added a valuable half-century to the tally before being dismissed in an unusual manner, with a ball ricocheting off Tom Latham at short leg and into the hands of skipper Tim Southee.
New Zealand’s rookie fast bowler William O’Rourke made an early impression, claiming two crucial wickets before lunch. Despite the absence of veteran pace bowler Matt Henry, O’Rourke’s performance proved instrumental as he bowled Dimuth Karunaratne and later dismissed Pathum Nissanka with a well-executed yorker.
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Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva’s dismissal at the hands of part-time bowler Glenn Phillips intensified the pressure on the team. Meanwhile, Angelo Mathews made his return to the crease following an injury but was out just before tea, leaving Sri Lanka in need of a strong recovery.
At the end of the day’s play, O’Rourke commented that “honours are pretty even,” while recognizing the efforts of the Sri Lankan batsmen to regain control of the match. “We’re looking forward to getting them out soon,” he added, as the New Zealand team prepared for their innings on Thursday.
This series represents a crucial moment for both teams, with valuable World Test Championship points on the line. New Zealand currently sits third in the standings, trailing India and Australia, while Sri Lanka occupies the fifth position. The first Test is set against the picturesque backdrop of the 17th-century Galle Fort, with a rest day planned for Saturday in observance of Sri Lanka’s presidential election.
The second Test will also take place in Galle, commencing on September 26.
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