FROM 13 INNINGS & 8 TESTS
By Srian Obeyesekere
Twenty five year old Kamindu Mendis literally orbited to milestone phantom like greatness becoming the fastest batsman in test cricket history to reach 1000 runs in 75 years in the fewer of 13 innings since the legendary Sir Donald Bradman drawing equal with the all-time Australian great as the second fastest to that hall of fame when the Sri Lankan ground the New Zealand attack to the tune of an unbeaten 182 to Sri Lanka declaring the first innings on a mammoth 602 for 5 wickets with Mendis’ namesake Kusal also striking an unbeaten hundred on the second day of the second test versus New Zealand who were in a further jolt of 22 for 2 at the Galle International Cricket Stadium.
Only two others England’s Herbert Sutcliffe and West Indian Everton Weeks have achieved the milestone fewer innings if 12 innings respectivey.
Indeed, the magical record has come in an orbit of within seven months since March this year when Mendis rocketed to twin centuries versus Bangladesh to 127 against England away recently on the heels of which 113 in the first test off New Zealand only last week to the landmark by his highest test hundred. It was more the remarkable that the left=hander traversed such success in a truly phenomenal odyssey from a lie key two year long cold storage by the selectors despite a debut fifty against Australia at home. Kamindu topped his magical run to reaching the record 1000 feat by a lofted straight drive for six off Rachin Ravindra as the visitors were rendered clueless by his run orgy spanning 250 balls rained in by 16 boundaries and 4 over the top.
The day did also holdout a comeback ecstasy for Kusal Mendis fighting a lean run to kissing the three figure undefeated 106 hurrah from the dumps in his bottom of the line casting at No 7 in a 149-bsll knock containing 6 boundaries and 3 sixes. The Mendis’ unfinished sixth wicket bonding realized exactly 200 runs.
New Zealand’s disastrous showing on the field was further compounded losing Tom Latham for 2 taken out by Asitha Fernando who had him caught by Pathum Nissanka and then Devon Conway whisked out by Prabath Jayasuriya to a catch to the Lankan captain for 9. It left Kane Williamson defying 42 deliveries for 6 with night watchman Ajaz Patel on a blank facing six balls.
New Zealand 22 for 2 (Williamson 6, Ajaz 0, Jayasuriya 1-3) trail Sri Lanka 602 for 5 dec (Kamindu 182, Chandimal 116, Kusal 106, Mathews 88, Phillips 3-141) by 580 runs
