Kamindu Mendis equals Babar Azam’s Test record, goes past Saud Shakeel

GALLE: Rising Sri Lanka batter Kamindu Mendis added another feather to his cap as he equalled Pakistan ace batter Babar Azam’s two-year-old Test record.

Mendis achieved the milestone when he scored an unbeaten half-century on the opening day of Sri Lanka’s second Test against New Zealand.

This was his eighth consecutive half-century in the longest format and thus drew level with star Pakistan batter Babar, who achieved the feat in 2022.

As a result, Kamindu Mendis joined Babar Azam as the only two batters to score eight consecutive half-centuries since 2018.

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Furthermore, Mendis, who has been in red-hot form since his Test return, became the first batter in the history of Test cricket to score a fifty-plus score in each of his first eight Tests, going past Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel, who scored seven.

Most 50-plus scores in consecutive Tests

Kamindu Mendis (SL): 8 Matches*
Saud Shakeel (PAK): 7 Matches
Bert Sutcliffe (NZ): 6 Matches
Saeed Ahmed (PAK): 6 Matches
Basil Butcher (WI): 6 Matches
Sunil Gavaskar (IND): 6 Matches

Mendis made his debut for Sri Lanka in 2022 against Australia in Galle and wasted no time to announce himself with a well-crafted 61, playing a pivotal role in leading the home side to an innings victory.

Despite a ground-breaking debut, Mendis remained away from the Test side for almost two years. He finally made his comeback earlier this year in the away series against Bangladesh.

Mendis started from where he left off as he scored two centuries in each innings of the Sylhet Test and backed it with a brilliant 92 in Chittagong.

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