Sri Lankan batter Kamindu Mendis continued his surreal ascent in the red-ball arena as he slammed his fifth Test century on Day 2 of the second Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand at the Galle International Stadium on Friday, September 27.
The left-handed batter finished Day 1 on a score of 51 off 56 balls. He became the first batter to register 50-plus scores in each of his first eight Test matches. Fellow overnight batter Angelo Mathews departed early on Day 2 but Mendis continued his stay at the crease, tackling the Kiwi bowlers with consummate ease.
Also Check: Stats: Angelo Mathews becomes third Sri Lankan to play 200 games at home across formats
At Lunch, he had taken his team past the 400-run mark with a 128-ball 93. The Southpaw got to the magical three-figure mark in the seventh over of the second session, courtesy a single off Glenn Phillips. Mendis took just 145 balls to complete his ton, as he mixed some orthodox strokes with a touch of flair, pulling out reverse sweeps and conventional sweeps to bamboozle the BlackCaps spinners.
Kusal Mendis equals legendary Don Bradman’s record
This was Mendis’ fifth Test century in just his 13th innings in the longest format of the game. He equalled the legendary Don Bradman and George Headley, who had also taken 13 innings each to register their fifth tons. Nobody has scored five tons in Test cricket in quicker time in terms of innings played than Everton Weekes. The West Indies cricketer slammed his fifth ton in just his 10th Test innings.
Not only that, Kamindu Mendis has now become the first-ever cricketer to hit eight fifty-plus scores in each of his eight Tests played so far.
The 25-year-old hit 12 fours and a solitary maximum en route to his magnificent century. Sri Lanka went past the 500-run mark in the second session as Kusal Mendis scored an entertaining half-century. The wicketkeeper-batter stitched a 100-run partnership with the left-hander off just 152 balls. With five wickets still left in the tank, the Island Nation will look to add some quick runs before declaring.
Meanwhile, the internet was abuzz in admiration for the stylish knock played by Kamindu Mendis, and the batter went trending on X (formerly known as Twitter) in no time.
Here’s how ‘X’ users reacted to Kamindu Mendis’ spectacular knock
What an incredible feat 😍
Scoring 5 hundred in 13 inning’s including 4 half centuries. 💯#KaminduMendis #Mendis #SL #SLvsNZ #TestCricket #CricketUpdates #100 pic.twitter.com/xecdsNFNRn
— Muhammad Saleem (@msaleemfareed) September 27, 2024
Commendable batting by Kamindu Mendis👌
– Shubman Gill has the chance to score his 4th Test 💯 in 2024🔥
– Let’s hope for a special-one from Gill🤞#INDvsBAN #ShubmanGill #KaminduMendis #SLvsNZ https://t.co/jhbox6XXqs
— CricTalk (@CricTalk29) September 27, 2024
History made! Kamindu Mendis is the quickest Asian batter to score 5 Test centuries, achieving this in just 13 innings!
Keep it up, Kamindu! 💫#SLvsNZ #KaminduMendis pic.twitter.com/Ifu78yucO7
— Nawaz 🇵🇰 (@Rnawaz31888) September 27, 2024
Kamindu Mendis – The Leading Century Getter in Tests in 2024. 🔥
Shubman Gill is the Only Indian in Top 5…!!!#Cricket #ShubmanGill #KaminduMendis #INDvBAN #nzvsl #TestCricket pic.twitter.com/rSYq16mGKw
— CRIC INSAAN 🇮🇳 (@CRICINSAAN) September 27, 2024
5th Test Hundred For Kamindu Mendis in Just 8th Test Match 🔥 Unreal Consistency#Sagar #KaminduMendis pic.twitter.com/Qxr5AYVGgy
— Sagar Mhatre (@MhatreGang) September 27, 2024
Most 100s in the first 13 innings of Test cricket: Kamindu Mendis
What an honour to be part of a list that features legends of the game! Interestingly, no modern players have made it to this elite group. #CricketStats #TestCricket #SLCricket #NZvSL #kamindumendis #SLCricket… pic.twitter.com/ks8bScaQaN
— lightningspeed (@lightningspeedk) September 27, 2024
Most Test Centuries after 13 innings
6: Neil Harvey
5: Kamindu Mendis*
5: Don Bradman
5: Everton Weekes
5: George Headley
5: Herbert Sutcliffe
Dream start to Test career for #KaminduMendis 👏
— The Cricket Panda (@TheCricketPanda) September 27, 2024
TAKE A BOW !..💯
5 CENTURIES IN JUST 8 MATCHES OF TEST CRICKET WOW.
KAMIDU MENDIS WHAT A PLAYER …. #sirlanka #kaminduMendis #SlvsNz #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/4JQiMzvQHH
— Pradyumna Dwivedi 🧢 (@PradyumnaD1208) September 27, 2024
WHAT A TALENT! शतकांची मालिका सुरुच
२५ वर्षीय श्रीलंकेच्या युवा खेळाडूचे एकतर्फी वर्चस्व#slvsnz #2ndtest #kamindumendis #testcricket https://t.co/zh6HDZkc7W
— Lokmat (@lokmat) September 27, 2024
Most 100s in the first 13 innings of Test cricket. Kamindu Mendis, What an honour to be part of a list that features legends like Don Bradman. 🔥#KaminduMendis #TestCricket #SLvsNZ #ICC #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/wRrVNsTTlN
— Akaran.A (@Akaran_1) September 27, 2024