Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis delivered an outstanding performance in the first Test match against New Zealand at Galle, scoring his fourth Test century in just his seventh match.
Mendis’ knock of 114 off 173 deliveries anchored Sri Lanka to a strong position, with the team ending Day One at 302/7.
Promoted to number 5 due to his excellent form, Mendis once again showcased his consistency, becoming one of the most reliable batters in Sri Lanka’s lineup. His century was filled with precision and composure, and though he was the final wicket to fall on the day—caught at slip off an Ajaz Patel delivery—his contribution left Sri Lanka in a commanding position.
Mendis has now scored fifty or more runs in each of his first seven Test matches, a world record he shares with Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel. His four Test centuries have come in Sylhet (twice), Manchester, and Galle, but this century holds a special place for him, as it was scored in his hometown of Galle, making it a meaningful achievement for the 25-year-old.
After the day’s play, Mendis expressed his joy, saying, “This is my hometown, and Richmond College, the school I went to, is here. There was a thought swirling around my head that I had to hit a hundred here.” Despite his success, Mendis remains focused on pushing himself further: “To be honest, you shouldn’t be happy with just a hundred as a batsman. You need to go further than that. Unfortunately, I got out.”
Mendis’ remarkable form has seen him accumulate 809 runs in 11 innings, averaging an astonishing 80.9, the highest average after Sir Donald Bradman for a batter with at least 10 Test innings. In the ongoing World Test Championship (WTC) cycle, Mendis has scored 748 runs at an average of 83.11, with four hundreds, only behind Joe Root in terms of centuries in this cycle.
His Test journey began with a 61-run knock on debut against Australia in 2022, and since then, he has made major contributions, including a 164 and 102 against Bangladesh earlier this year and impressive knocks during Sri Lanka’s historic Test series win in England.
Kamindu Mendis is quickly establishing himself as one of the brightest young stars in Test cricket, and his impressive form suggests he is poised for an even greater impact in the future.
