Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis delivered a courageous century on Wednesday, rescuing his team from a precarious position and helping them wrestle back the initiative against New Zealand on the first day of the first Test. The hosts reached 302 for seven at stumps, thanks largely to Mendis’s impressive display of grit and determination.
The day began with Sri Lanka struggling at 106 for four just after lunch. However, Mendis, who had been named Player of the Series during Sri Lanka’s recent tour of England, stepped up to the plate and provided a calm and composed performance. He anchored the innings, guiding his team through a tricky period and giving them a much-needed platform to build upon.
Mendis’s innings came to an end on 114 in the penultimate over of the day, when Ajaz Patel bowled a sharp delivery that popped off the glove and into the hands of the first slip fielder. Despite his departure, Mendis’s contribution had been invaluable, and he was rightly lauded for his valiant effort.
The versatile all-rounder, known for his ability to bat and bowl with both hands, was playing in his seventh Test match. He has already accumulated over 800 runs in Test cricket, including four centuries and four half-centuries.
Sri Lanka found themselves in a bit of trouble again going into tea, with the score at 178 for five. But a crucial 103-run stand between Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis rescued the situation and provided a respectable first innings total. Kusal also managed to post a half-century before falling victim to an unusual dismissal, with the ball striking Tom Latham at short leg and being caught by captain Tim Southee.
Earlier in the day, rookie New Zealand fast bowler William O’Rourke had made a promising start, rattling Sri Lanka’s top order and taking two wickets as the hosts reached 88 at lunch. The Kiwis took a gamble by leaving out veteran pace bowler Matt Henry, but O’Rourke justified his inclusion with an impressive display of pace and movement. He surprised Dimuth Karunaratne with extra bounce in the fourth over, leading to the left-hander nicking the ball to wicketkeeper Tom Blundell for two. Fellow opener Pathum Nissanka, fresh from a match-winning performance against England last week, was then cleaned up by a yorker that swung in late after scoring 27.
After lunch, Dinesh Chandimal clipped Southee’s fourth ball to mid-wicket, where Michael Bracewell took a diving catch. Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva was then bowled through the gate by part-time spin bowler Glenn Phillips, who was making his debut in the first over. Angelo Mathews, who was forced off the field after a blow to his thumb, returned to bat before being dismissed on 36 in the last over before tea, nicking O’Rourke to the wicketkeeper.
Sri Lanka’s last Test series win against New Zealand came in 2009. Since then, the Black Caps have won four series and drawn two against the host side. Both teams are vying for crucial World Test Championship points, with New Zealand currently sitting third on the table behind India and Australia. Sri Lanka is fifth.
The first Test, played on the imposing grounds beneath the walls of the 17th-century Galle Fort, will have a rest day on Saturday, coinciding with the Sri Lankan presidential election. The second Test will also be held in Galle, starting on September 26.
