Kamindu Mendis delivered an outstanding performance with a resilient century, propelling Sri Lanka to a strong position of 302 for seven at stumps on the first day of the opening Test against New Zealand on Wednesday.
Sri Lanka was in a precarious position at 106 for four after lunch, but Mendis, recently named player of the series on Sri Lanka’s tour of England, stabilized the innings with his composure. His impressive knock of 114 was cut short just before the close of play when he was caught off the bowling of Ajaz Patel.
“This century feels special, as it came in my hometown,” Mendis said after play. “I should have made it a bigger score, but I couldn’t do much about that delivery.”
Mendis, an all-rounder renowned for his ambidextrous batting and bowling, has already made a notable impact in his seventh Test match, with over 800 runs, including four centuries and four half-centuries.
At tea, Sri Lanka was in a challenging spot at 178 for five, but a crucial 103-run partnership between Kamindu and Kusal Mendis shifted the momentum. Kusal contributed a solid half-century before falling to an unusual dismissal when a ball ricocheted off Tom Latham at short leg, leading to a catch by captain Tim Southee.
New Zealand’s rookie fast bowler William O’Rourke made an early impact by taking two key wickets before lunch. Despite the absence of veteran pace bowler Matt Henry, O’Rourke proved instrumental, dismissing Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka with a well-executed yorker.
Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva’s dismissal by part-time bowler Glenn Phillips added to the pressure, while Angelo Mathews, returning from injury, was dismissed shortly before tea, leaving Sri Lanka in need of a strong recovery.
At the end of the day, O’Rourke noted that “honours are pretty even” but acknowledged the effort of the Sri Lankan batsmen in regaining control of the match. “We are looking forward to getting them out soon,” he added, as the Kiwis prepare for their innings on Thursday.
This series is crucial for both teams, with World Test Championship points at stake. New Zealand is currently third on the table, behind India and Australia, while Sri Lanka is in fifth place. The first Test is set against the picturesque backdrop of Galle Fort, with a rest day scheduled on Saturday for Sri Lanka’s presidential election.
The second Test will also be held in Galle, starting September 26.
