On Wednesday, the hosts regained control of the game and reached 302 for seven at stumps on the opening day of the first Test, thanks to a valiant century by Mendis.
The rising sensation from Sri Lanka, Kamindu Mendis, has had a wonderful Test debut. Mendis has participated in six Tests since July 2022, and he has at least one 50-plus score in each of those contests. Now, on Wednesday, Mendis scored a ton of runs in a Test match at Galle against New Zealand. In each of his first seven Tests, he has achieved a score of fifty or higher. In the 147-year history of Test cricket, this achievement has only occurred once before. Saud Shakeel of Pakistan became the first Test player last year to reach fifty or more in each of his first seven Test matches.
Prior to then, in each of their first six Test matches, Sunil Gavaskar of India, Saeed Ahmed of Pakistan, Basil Butcher of the West Indies, and Bert Sutcliffe of New Zealand all struck half-centuries.
On the first day of the first Test, Mendis made a valiant century against New Zealand on Wednesday as the home team regained control and finished the day at 302 for seven.
After lunch, Sri Lanka had collapsed to 106 for four, but Kamindu, who had been named player of the series during the team’s recent tour of England, calmly and confidently steadied the innings.
In order to put themselves “on top of the game” on Thursday, Kamindu stated that the Sri Lankans wanted to “get close to the 350 mark”.In the last over of the day, Ajaz Patel twisted the ball sharply, causing it to fly off the glove for an easy catch at first slip, ending the all-rounder’s innings at 114.
“It’s a special hundred this one, as this came in my hometown,” Kamindu stated.
“I should have gone on to get a big one, but I couldn’t do much about that ball.”
Kamindu, who is renowned for his dual-handed bowling and batting skills, is participating in his eighth Test match. With over 800 runs scored, he has already amassed four hundreds and four half-centuries.Sri Lanka were struggling at 178 for five at tea, but a 103-run stand between Kusal Mendis and Kamindu saved them and gave a respectable first innings total.
Kusal scored a half-century but was dismissed soon after when the ball struck Tom Latham at short leg, with skipper Tim Southee catching it.
William O’Rourke, a rookie fast bowler from New Zealand, took two wickets as Sri Lanka’s top order reached 88 at lunchtime.
The Kiwis gambled by leaving out veteran fast bowler Matt Henry, but 23-year-old O’Rourke quickly justified his selection.He shocked Dimuth Karunaratne with additional bounce in the fourth over, and the left-hander nicked the ball to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell, leaving for two.
Pathum Nissanka, who had just won a match against England, was bowled out by a yorker that came in late after scoring 27.
Dinesh Chandimal clipped Southee’s fourth ball after lunch to midwicket, where Michael Bracewell made a diving catch.
Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva was next bowled through the gate, giving part-time spinner Glenn Phillips success in his first over.
Angelo Mathews, who had been forced off due to a thumb injury, returned to bat before being removed on 36 in the final over before tea, nicking O’Rourke to the wicketkeeper.
O’Rourke stated that “honours are pretty even” at the close of day one, praising “the Sri Lankan batters for getting themselves back into the game.”
However, he stated that New Zealand was eager to begin their innings early on Thursday.
“We are looking forward to knock them over soon,” he said.
