The Sri Lanka batter Kamindu Mendis smashes his fifth test century during the second test match on the New Zealand tour of Sri Lanka 2024 on Friday. This is his second hundred of the series and third 50+ scores in many innings.
Mendis completed the century in 147 balls which ensured Sri Lanka to go past 400 runs. He also brought up a 100-run partnership with Angelo Mathews in 125 balls for the fourth wicket in the first session on Day 02.
He broke the previous record held by Pakistan’s Fawad Alam who smashed five hundreds in 22 innings. He is now fourth joint fastest in all-time in the list of batters to have five test centuries.
He tallied with Australian legend Don Bradman and West Indies’ George Headley by scoring his fifth test hundred in his 13th innings.
Test match No. 8⃣, century No.5⃣
Kamindu Mendis’ dream run continues 🔥 #WTC25 | 📝 #SLvNZ: https://t.co/0bFVQzaPgu pic.twitter.com/8PuFgX7QQo
— ICC (@ICC) September 27, 2024
Mendis has previously created a world record for the most successive fifty-plus score since debut, scoring eight half-centuries after his first match.
Mendis already has over 900 runs and is all set to be among the fastest to breach the 1000-run mark in Test cricket.
Fastest batters to five test centuries
- Everton Weekes (WI) – 10
- Herbert Sutcliffe (ENG) – 12
- Neil Harvey (AUS) – 12
- Don Bradman (AUS) – 13
- George Headley (WI) – 13
- Kamindu Mendis (SL) – 13*
After Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to bat, Sri Lanka suffered a setback with Pathum Nissanka being dismissed early.
However, Dimuth Karunaratne and Dinesh Chandimal recovered the side with a 122-run partnership for the second wicket. Karunaratne’s runout provided a breakthrough for New Zealand.
Meanwhile, Chandimal smashed a century before his dismissal. Kamindu Mendis’ arrival solidified Sri Lanka’s position. Alongside Mathews, Mendis guided the team to go past 300-mark.
After Angelo Matthews’ dismissal, Dhanajaya de Silva joined Mendis and scored 44 runs. Meanwhile, Sri Lanka crossed the 400 runs mark at Galle.
Mendis’ remarkable run is a clear sign of his growing stature in world cricket, making him one of Sri Lanka’s reliable batters in the middle order.
