In a thrilling turn of events, Kamindu Mendis has matched a longstanding Sri Lankan batting record during the first Test against England at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester. The all-rounder achieved this milestone in just his fourth Test match, scoring his third century to etch his name in the history books.
Kamindu Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal.Hitting 113 runs from 183 balls, Mendis played a pivotal role on Day 4 of the Test match, leading his team’s batting resurgence in the second innings. Although he eventually fell to England’s Gus Atkinson, his impressive third century helped him equal the record for the most Test centuries by a Sri Lankan batter batting from No.7 or lower. This achievement ties him with former Sri Lankan wicketkeeper Prasanna Jayawardene, who also scored three centuries from similar positions in 70 innings.
Mendis’ journey in the match, however, was marked by contrasts. In the first innings, he managed to score only 12 runs, contributing to Sri Lanka’s total of 236 runs. Showcasing their resilience, the Sri Lankan team scored a more formidable 326 runs in the second innings, led by Mendis’ stellar century. Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal also made significant contributions, each scoring fifties to bolster their team’s total.
Sri Lanka commenced their innings with an initial score of 236, with notable half-century contributions from Dhananjaya de Silva and Milan Rathnayake. Unfortunately, the rest of the batting lineup faltered, failing to cross the 50-mark. England, in response, posted a formidable 358 in their first innings, with Jamie Smith leading the charge with a century, assisted by Harry Brook’s 56 runs.
England’s Playing XI:
– Daniel Lawrence
– Ben Duckett
– Ollie Pope (c)
– Joe Root
– Harry Brook
– Jamie Smith (wk)
– Chris Woakes
– Gus Atkinson
– Matthew Potts
– Mark Wood
– Shoaib Bashir
Sri Lanka’s Playing XI:
– Dimuth Karunaratne
– Nishan Madushka
– Kusal Mendis
– Angelo Mathews
– Dinesh Chandimal (wk)
– Dhananjaya de Silva (c)
– Kamindu Mendis
– Prabath Jayasuriya
– Asitha Fernando
– Vishwa Fernando
– Milan Priyanath Rathnayake
Kamindu Mendis’ record-equaling century at such an early stage in his Test career is nothing short of remarkable. It is a testament to his talent and potential, offering his team and fans plenty of hope and excitement for the future. This thrilling Test match may just be the beginning of a significant journey for the young all-rounder as he continues to make his mark on international cricket.
