Cricket

SL Vs NZ, 2nd Test: Kamindu Mendis Equals Don Bradman, Achieves Multiple Feats With 5th Ton

The 25-year-old was the highest run-scorer in the first Test match against New Zealand at Galle where he made a 173-ball 114 and played a crucial role in Sri Lanka's 63-run win. The hosts are leading the two-match series 1-0

kamindu mendis test match hundreds X espn cricinfo
Kamindu Mendis batting during the second Test match against New Zealand in Galle. Photo: X | ESPN Cricinfo
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Kamindu Mendis is breaking records after records since his return to Test cricket in March this year. He completed his fifth Test hundred in his 13th Test inning to equal Sir Don Bradman's record. (Day 1 BlogMore Cricket News)

Everton Weekes (10), Herbert Sutcliffe (12) and Neil Harvey (12) are above them in the list but he has become the fastest Asian cricketer to hit five Test tons. Earlier, Pakistan's Fawad Alam achieved the feat in 22 innings.

Since his Test debut against Australia in 2022, Mendis has played eight Test matches so far and has made a fifty-plus score in all the matches. He is the first cricketer in Test cricket's 147-year existence to achieve this feat.

The 25-year-old was the highest run-scorer in the first Test match against New Zealand at Galle where he made a 173-ball 114 and played a crucial role in Sri Lanka's 63-run win. The hosts are leading the two-match series 1-0.

Who Is Kamindu Mendis?

Mendis played his first Test at Galle in 2022 and made vital 61 runs to help his side beat mighty Australia. Born in Galle, Mendis is a batter all-rounder who bowls right-arm off break. He made his T20I debut in 2018, ODI debut in 2019 and Test debut in 2022. He gained attention after his prolific Test batting stats which has earned him comparisons with some greats of the game.

Mendis waited for two years for his second Test match and scored twin hundreds (102 and 164) against Bangladesh in Sylhet. He became the seventh Sri Lankan batter to achieve the feat. His 164 is the fourth-highest score by a No. 8 batter in Test cricket.

Kamindu Mendis made an unbeaten 182 off 250 balls and equalled Don Bradman again when he completed his 1000 Test runs in his 13th innings. Herbert Sutcliffe and Everton Weekes (12 innings) hold the joint record for the fastest to reach 1000 Test runs.

Sri Lanka declared their first inning at 602/5 in 163.4 overs. Kusal Mendis completed his hundred with a six. And Kamindu reached the milestone with a massive six and just after that Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva called them back.