The in-form Kamindu Mendis shattered another major record in red-ball cricket after scoring an unbeaten fifty in the second Test match against New Zealand on Thursday. Mendis became the first player in the history of Test cricket to register 8 fifty-plus scores in his first eight matches.
No cricketers had managed to display this kind of consistency in Test cricket since the first match was played in 1877. Mendis now boast four centuries and five fifties in his first eight Test matches to continue to make the headlines with each innings.
Pakistan's rising star Saud Shakeel registered the fifties in his first seven consecutive Test matches to previously hold the record. Mendis equalled Shakeel's tally after scoring a crucial hundred against New Zealand in the last match and now set a new standard with another fifty.
Meanwhile, Sri Lanka dominated Day 1 of the second Test against New Zealand at Galle International Stadium. The hosts lost opener Pathum Nissanka to Tim Southee in the very first over after opting to bat first in the second match but the Kiwis failed to capitalise on a good start.
The former captain Dimuth Karunaratne and in-form wicketkeeper batter Dinesh Chandimal then added 122 runs for the second wicket to keep Sri Lanka on track for a big total. The duo dominated the first session as the Black Caps bowlers struggled to find any help from the Galle's wicket.
Karunaratne missed out on his fifty by just four runs before getting run out by Glenn Phillips. Sri Lanka stayed in control with Angelo Mathews and Chandimal adding another big partnership for the third wicket with the latter scoring his 16th Test century.
Glenn Phillips dismissed Chandimal after the tea break but new batter Kamindu continued his red-hot form to frustrate the Kiwis' bowlers. Kamindu managed to register his fifty in the last over of Day 1 by smashing a reverse-sweep boundary off Mitchell Santner.
Mathews remained unbeaten on 78 runs off 166 balls and Kamindu smashed quick 51* off 56 balls as Sri Lanka managed to post a 306 for 3 total in 90 overs on Day 1 in Galle.
