27 September,2024 07:47 PM IST | Galle | mid-day online correspondent
Kamindu Mendis (Pic: AFP)
Sri Lankan middle-order batsman Kamindu Mendis stormed into the record books in Galle on Friday when he became just the fourth cricketer to make 1,000 runs inside 13 Test innings.
The 25-year old has played just eight Test matches since his debut two years ago at the same venue against Australia, but has quickly made a name for himself as a star hitter. Six of those matches have been played since March, when he scored his first five-day ton against Bangladesh.
"He has been unbelievable over the eight games that he has played," all-rounder teammate Angelo Mathews told reporters on the sidelines of SL vs NZ 2nd Test. "So happy that one of our own is breaking all these records. He is unbelievable."
His unbeaten 182 against New Zealand on Friday made him equal third-fastest to the 1,000-run mark with Australia's Donald Bradman, widely held to be the sport's greatest batsman. Only two others have surpassed him, with England's Herbert Sutcliffe and Everton Weekes of the West Indies both reaching the landmark in 12 innings.
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It was another feather in the young left-hander's cap since the SL vs NZ 2nd Test began on Thursday, when he made his eighth consecutive fifty from eight Test appearances. Friday's knock made it five Test centuries from 13 innings -- a record that also tied him with Bradman as well as George Headley of the West Indies. Only three batsmen have reached the mark faster, with Weekes managing in 10 and Sutcliffe making it in 12 alongside Australia's Neil Harvey.
By the time Sri Lanka declared on 602-5, he had notched up a 200-run partnership in Galle -- where Kamindu was born and raised -- alongside fellow centurion Kusal Mendis (106 not out).
Kamindu was the only cricketer to make a century on either side in the first Test against New Zealand, which Sri Lanka won by 63 runs. He has been in excellent form this year and was also Sri Lanka's highest run-scorer in their last two series against Bangladesh and England.
"He has got the skill, temperament and the desire to hard work," Mathews said. "He is a special player. He is more mature than his age. None of us were able to do this stuff in our early days."
(With agency inputs)
