Sri Lanka batter Kamindu Mendis is on a run-making spree and in the process has been smashing Test cricket records on the way. The latest one he achieved in the ongoing second Test against New Zealand at Galle on September 27, 2024.
After a sedated opening start with Pathum Nissanka (1) and Dimuth Karunaratne (46), Kamindu Mendis anchored one end as the run-fest began. Angelo Mathews made 88, while Dinesh Chandimal made 116 runs. Mathews added 97 with Chandimal and 107 runs with Mendis.
There was a short 74-run stand with captain Dhananjaya de Silva (44) before Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis (106*) added an unbeaten 200 runs for the 6th wicket. Kamindu Mendis finished on 182* with 16 fours and 4 sixes as Sri Lanka declared their first innings on 602/5d.
There was a host of records that Kamindu Mendis broke or created with his amazing knock of 182*. This was his fifth Test century in 13 innings and he became the joint-third to the milestone tied with West Indies legend George Headley and Australia’s Sir Don Bradman.
The record is held by West Indies batter Everton Weekes, who hit 5 Test centuries in his first 10 innings.
Thanks to his 182*, Kamindu Mendis also completed 1000 runs in Tests becoming the joint second-fastest to the milestone. He is tied with Sir Don Bradman who also reached 1000 runs in just 13 Test innings. The record is held by England’s Herbert Sutcliffe and West Indies’ Everton Weekes who achieved 1000 Test runs in only 12 innings.
Mendis did become the fastest Asian to score 1000 runs in Tests, in 13 innings, beating India’s Vinod Kambli’s record of 14 innings.
In terms of Tests played, Kamindu is the second fastest to 1000 Test runs, behind Bradman. While Bradman reached the landmark in seven Tests, Kamindu did it in 8 Tests.
Kamindu Mendis received wide praise for his achievements and records by the cricketing fraternity on social media.
Here are some posts:
