Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis
| Photo Credit: AFP

Kamindu Mendis matched Don Bradman as the joint third fastest player to 1,000 test runs as Sri Lanka tightened its grip on New Zealand in the second test on Friday.

Sri Lanka declared at 602-5 in its first innings and left New Zealand reeling at 22-2 by stumps. With three full days left to play, the Kiwis face a mountainous challenge to avoid a second defeat.

Kamindu reached the 1,000-run milestone in just his 13th test innings, sharing the honor with Bradman, who achieved the feat in 1930 against England at Headingley. Only England’s Herbert Sutcliffe and West Indies great Everton Weekes reached the landmark in fewer innings, doing so in 12 knocks.

In a career that has blossomed rapidly, Kamindu notched his fifth century before lunch. and second century in two tests. Later, with audacious flair, he brought up his 1,000th run by stepping down the track to Rachin Ravindra and smashing a towering six straight back over the bowler’s head.

This remarkable achievement made him not only the fastest Sri Lankan but also the quickest Asian to the milestone, surpassing the likes of Sri Lanka great Roy Dias (23 innings) and India’s Vinod Kambli (14).

The crowd’s celebrations were bittersweet, however, as Sri Lanka declared before Kamindu could reach his maiden double century. He was unbeaten on 182 off 250 balls, an innings laced with 16 boundaries and four massive sixes.

“Kamindu Mendis has been sensational for us this year,” teammate Angelo Mathews said. “He is doing stuff that none of us were able to do early in our careers. He is very matured, knows his game and plays very positively.

Even in the first test, we were under tremendous pressure after a collapse and he rescued us with a hundred. In the second test, the pitch was not doing much, but his concentration was amazing. He just kept on batting. It was a terrific knock.

“Kamindu has made runs everywhere. He was player of the series in Bangladesh this year when wickets weren’t the easiest to bat on. Then, when we went to England, it was seaming all over and he batted so beautifully. Then again, here, on turning tracks he has looked a class apart.”

Kamindu found strong support from Kusal Mendis, who shrugged off recent struggles to post an undefeated 106, his 10th test century.

Demoted to No. 7 in the order after disappointing performances, Kusal responded with a measured innings, combining with Kamindu for an unbroken 200-run partnership, the highest sixth-wicket stand for Sri Lanka against New Zealand on home soil. This partnership also set a record as the highest sixth-wicket stand in Galle, by any team, further cementing Sri Lanka’s dominance.

Earlier in the day, the hosts lost Mathews (88) and skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (44) in the morning session, but Kamindu’s relentless march, paired with Kusal’s defiance, ensured Sri Lanka remained firmly in the driver’s seat, with thoughts of a 2-0 series sweep looming large.

New Zealand, meanwhile, missed crucial chances again to rein in Sri Lanka. Daryl Mitchell dropped Kamindu on 26 and Tom Blundell fluffing a straightforward stumping when he was on 113.

The misery continued for the Kiwis when Sri Lanka struck early in their innings.

Asitha Fernando set the tone, dismissing Tom Latham in the very first over with a sharp catch at gully. Prabath Jayasuriya then removed the other opener Devon Conway, snapped up at slip by De Silva on 9.

“It’s a tough ask for us now,” New Zealand’s Luke Ronchi said. “The important thing is to play each ball, build partnerships and see through sessions. We have done it before in tough conditions. We need to take the game as deep as possible.”

Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis celebrates his century during the first test cricket match against England, in Manchester on Saturday
| Photo Credit: Reuters

England faced a target of 205 to win the first Test against Sri Lanka after dismissing the tourists for 326 in their second innings on Saturday’s fourth day at Old Trafford.

Kamindu Mendis top-scored for Sri Lanka with 113 — his third hundred in just four Tests — having come in with his side in trouble at 95-4 after they had been in the even worse position of 1-2.

Together with Dinesh Chandimal (79) he shared a seventh-wicket stand of 117 in 30 overs.

But Mendis’s dismissal sparked a collapse. Sri Lanka lost their last four wickets for 19 runs, with wicketkeeper Chandimal the last man to fall when he holed out off Matthew Potts.

Durham paceman Potts, recalled after England captain Ben Stokes was ruled out with a torn hamstring, took 3-47 in 17.3 overs.

This is the first of a three-Test series.

Sri Lanka’s cricketers walk off the field after the second day of the second Test cricket match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong on March 31, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Sri Lanka kept its nose ahead in the second and final cricket Test against Bangladesh by posting a massive 531 on Day 2 Sunday, thanks to six batters getting past half-century marks.

In response, Bangladesh reached 55-1 at stumps, still trailing by 476 runs.

None of the batters were able to reach the three-figure mark but Sri Lanka ensured it didn’t lose wickets in succession.

Kamindu Mendis, who scored twin centuries in the first test that Sri Lanka won by a crushing 328 runs, was stranded on 92 as the 10th wicket fell to a run-out dismissal.

Kusal Mendis made a team-high 93 while Dimuth Karunaratne scored 86. Captain Dhananjaya de Silva, who also scored centuries in both innings of the first test, added 70.

Dinesh Chandimal contributed 59 and opener Nishan Madushka made 57.

“Our players, most of them, got out to good balls,” Kamindu said.

“It doesn’t matter whether you get a hundred or not. We still reached 500 runs.” Shakib Al Hasan, playing his first Test in more than a year, took 3-110 to gain a measure of control and stem some of the run flow.

Resuming at 314-4, Sri Lanka played in aggressive fashion with de Silva taking the anchor role.

Dinesh Chandimal, who reached scores of just 9 and 0 in the first test, also found some form and frustrated Bangladesh further.

Chandimal raised his 26th test fifty off 85 balls, hitting pacer Hasan Mahmud for a boundary through mid-off.

But he was he was undone by Shakib a short time later and was dismissed for 59 off 104 balls, ending an 86-run partnership with de Silva.

De Silva also struck a boundary off left-arm spinner Taijul Islam to bring up his 14th fifty off 70 balls and appeared to be heading toward his third straight century after scoring 102 and 108 in the first test.

Fast bowler Syed Khaled Ahmed (1-71) got him leg-before with a delivery that kept low after de Silva hit six fours and two sixes for his well-crafted knock.

Kamindu hit three consecutive boundaries after his arrival at the crease to get off the mark smoothly but Bangladesh bowlers led by Shakib maintained a tight line and length to slow down the tourists.

Kamindu raised his fourth straight fifty in the first four innings of his career off 99 balls, pushing offspinner Mehidy Hasan for a single through cover.

Shakib was rewarded for his tight length when he got rid of Prabath Jayasuirya for 28 to end the 65-run partnership.

Despite running out of partners, Kamindu paced the innings further to take the side past 500.

He struck Taijul for two sixes in an over to reach 90 and appeared set for his third century in a row.

However, Asitha Fernando was run out, leaving Kamindu stranded after hitting seven fours and two sixes in his knock.

Mahmud, who took two wickets on Day 1 on his test debut, couldn’t add to his tally Sunday and finished with figures of 2-92.

“We are still thinking about winning the game. It might seem a bit bizarre considering we are 480 runs behind,” Bangladesh batting coach David Hemp said.

“The key bit will be to negotiate tomorrow. First things first, we have to make sure we bat well for three sessions tomorrow.”

Bangladesh openers Mahmudul Hasan and Zakir Hasan then had to deal with a probing spell of fast bowling from Lahiru Kumara who moved the new ball admirably.

Kumara (1-4) got his reward when he bowled Mahmudul out for 21, ending his 47-run partnership with Zakir.

Zakir struck five fours to remain not out on 28 with nightwatchman Taijul Islam yet to score.

Sri Lanka’s Dhananjaya de Silva plays a shot during the first day of the first Test cricket match between Bangladesh and Sri Lanka at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium in Sylhet on March 22, 2024.
| Photo Credit: AFP

Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis hit centuries as Sri Lanka recovered from early trouble to end day one on top in the opening cricket test on March 22.

Both de Silva and Kamindu scored 102 to steer Sri Lanka to 280 all out after being reduced to 57-5. The pacers then helped the side consolidate its position by reducing Bangladesh to 32-3 at stumps.

Fast bowlers Khaled Ahmed and Nahid Rana, who made his debut, claimed three wickets each for Bangladesh on a 13-wicket day.

Khaled (3-72) ripped through the top order before Rana, whose 3-87 included the wickets of both de Silva and Kamindu, caused a middle order havoc.

Khaled struck in the second over after Bangladesh captain Najmul Hossain Shanto won the toss and put Sri Lanka in to bat. He had Nishan Madushka caught by Mehidy Hasan at third slip with a fuller, swinging delivery.

Kusal Mendis and Dimuth Karunaratne appeared to steady the innings, with Mendis reaching 4,000 career test runs when he hit pace bowler Shoriful Islam for a boundary through fine-leg. But Khaled undid him soon after with extra bounce, with Mendis (16) pulling directly to gully where Zakir Hasan completed an easy catch.

Four balls later, Khaled bowled Karunarate for 17 with raw pace to leave Sri Lanka at 41-3 in 12th over.

The situation worsened for Sri Lanka when Angelo Mathews was run out for 5 and Shoriful Islam dismissed Dinesh Chandimal (9).

Kamindu and de Silva then denied Bangladesh a single wicket in the second session and combined for a 202-run for the sixth wicket. Kamindu raised his maiden century off 126 balls, driving Rana past backward point for a boundary as Sri Lanka appeared to take the complete control.

However, Rana broke through in the next delivery, making Kamindu his maiden test wicket when the batter edged a delivery behind.

Kamindu’s knock included 11 fours and three sixes.

In the same over, de Silva completed his 12th century off 127 balls when he flicked Rana for a boundary past square leg. But Rana dismissed him with a short delivery in his next over.

Sri Lanka’s lower order could manage only 16 runs after de Silva’s dismissal.

But the Bangladeshi batters squandered the chance to establish control.

Pacer Vishwa Fernando, who ended with 2-9, dealt a double strike, dismissing Zakir Hasan (9) and Bangladesh skipper Najmul Hossain Shanto (5) in consecutive overs. And when his new ball partner Kasun Rajitha (1-20) had Mominul Haque caught by Kamindu Mendis, Sri Lanka looked to be on top.