Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis surpassed Sunil Gavaskar to equal Pakistan star Shaud Shakeel’s world record

sri lanka star Kamindu Mendis He is enjoying his debut in Tests. Since playing his first Test in July 2022, Mendis has scored more than 50 at least once in each of his first six Tests. Now on Wednesday, Mendis scored a century in the Test match against New Zealand in Galle. With this, he has scored more than fifty in each of his first seven Tests. This feat has happened only once before in the 147-year history of Test cricket. Last year, against Pakistan, Mendis scored more than 50 in the Test match against New Zealand in Galle. Saud Shakeel Became the first Test player to score more than 50 in each of his first seven Test matches.

Earlier, India’s Sunil Gavaskarof Pakistan Saeed AhmedBasil Butcher of the West Indies and New Zealand Bert Sutcliffe He scored a half century in each of his first six Tests.

Mendis smashed a heroic hundred against New Zealand on Wednesday, helping the hosts bounce back to 302 for seven at stumps on the first day of the first Test.

Sri Lanka were 106 for four at lunch but Kamindu, who was Sri Lanka’s Player of the Series in the recent tour of England, displayed confidence and composure to steady the side.

Kamindu said the Sri Lankan team was looking to get on top of the game by aiming to “get close to 350” on Thursday.

The all-rounder’s innings ended at 114 in the final over of the day. Ejaz Patel He turned the ball sharply and it bounced off his glove and went to first slip for an easy catch.

“This is a special century because it was made in my hometown,” Kamindu said.

“I should have gone ahead and played the bigger shot, but there wasn’t much I could do about that ball.”

Kamindu, known for his ability to bat and bowl with both hands, is playing his seventh Test match. He has so far scored over 800 runs with four centuries and four half-centuries.

Before tea, Sri Lanka were placed at 178 for 5 and were in a bit of trouble but a 103-run partnership between the two sides helped the team win. Kusal Mendis And Kamindu rescued them and provided a reasonable score in the first innings.

Kusal scored a half-century but was dismissed in an unusual manner soon after, after being hit by a ball. Tom Latham At short leg, with the captain tim southee To snatch the catch.

– ‘Drop them’ –
New Zealand’s new fast bowler William O’Rourke Earlier, he had rattled the Sri Lankan top order, taking two wickets to take the hosts to 88 at lunch.

New Zealand gambled by keeping the experienced fast bowler out matt henry But O’Rourke, 23, soon justified his inclusion.

he is surprised Dimuth Karunaratne In the fourth over, the left-handed batsman got extra bounce and edged the ball to the wicketkeeper Tom BlundellDeparture for two.

Fellow openers Pathum NissankaFresh from a match-winning performance against England last week, he was bowled off a late yorker after making 27.

Dinesh Chandimal After lunch, he played Southee’s fourth ball to midwicket, where michael bracewell Dived and took the catch.

Sri Lankan Captain Dhananjay De Silva After this, the ball was given to a part-time spin bowler and he was bowled through the gate Glenn Phillips Got success in his first over itself.

angelo mathewsHe returned to bat after leaving the field with a thumb injury, but was dismissed for 36 in the final over before tea, nicking a delivery from O’Rourke to the wicketkeeper.

O’Rourke said that “honours are equal” at the end of the first day, and “credit must be given to the Sri Lankan batsmen for coming back in the game”.

But he said New Zealand were looking forward to starting their innings early on Thursday.

“We are looking forward to defeating them soon,” he said.

With AFP inputs