In recent cricketing events, while Bangladesh showcased an impressive performance in the Test match in Pakistan, the Sri Lankan team is also putting up a tough fight against England in a gripping series. At Old Trafford, the first Test match is intensifying as Sri Lanka demonstrates resilience with their middle-order batting, effectively keeping themselves in contention. Despite a poor start in the first innings and losing quick wickets in the second innings, Sri Lanka has rallied back, led by a player known primarily for his bowling—Kamindu Mendis—who delivered a stellar century and broke a 40-year-old record.
Kamindu Mendis Shines in the Test Arena
As the first Test of the series unfolds, Sri Lanka’s return to form has been noteworthy. On the fourth day of the match, Sri Lanka resumed their second innings at 204 runs, losing 6 wickets. On the crease were Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal, with Mendis having already completed his half-century on the previous day. Throughout the first session of Day 4, both batsmen displayed excellent resistance, adding 87 runs without losing a wicket, bringing the team total to 291 runs.
Mendis’s Exceptional Century Breaks Records
During this crucial phase, Mendis achieved his remarkable century. Batting at number seven, the 25-year-old completed his century just before the end of the first session, taking 167 balls to do so. In his fourth Test match, he struck 12 boundaries and one six on his way to this significant milestone. With this achievement, Mendis has set a new record for the highest score by a Sri Lankan player batting at the seventh position or lower in a Test match in England, surpassing the previous record held by Dalip Mendis, who scored 94 runs at Lord’s in 1984.
Kamindu Mendis: A Dual Threat
Kamindu Mendis first made headlines in international cricket by bowling with both hands. He debuted for Sri Lanka in T20 cricket in 2018, followed by his ODI debut in 2019, leaving audiences and players alike astonished with his unique ability to switch between right-arm and left-arm spin in the same over. Although he made his Test debut in 2022 and had a brief outing scoring 61 runs, it was in 2024 that he made a strong comeback. In March 2024, he scored centuries in both innings of a Test against Bangladesh and followed it up with an unbeaten 92 runs in his next Test’s first innings. In just five months, Mendis has notched up three centuries and one half-century, establishing himself as a formidable batsman.
Summary of Kamindu Mendis’s Achievements
| Year | Format | Milestone |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | T20I | Debut |
| 2019 | ODI | Debut |
| 2022 | Test | Debut |
| 2024 | Test | Centuries in both innings against Bangladesh |
| 2024 | Test | New record for highest score at lower batting position in England |
