Kamindu Mendis equals Saud Shakeel’s Test record

GALLE: Sri Lanka’s middle-order batter Kamindu Mendis on Wednesday, equalled Pakistan’s emerging batter Saud Shakeel’s record in Test cricket.

Kamindu Mendis became only the second batter in the history of Test cricket to score seven fifty-plus scores in each of his first seven Tests, drawing level with Saud Shakeel, who set the milestone in July last year.

Mendis achieved the feat in Sri Lanka’s first Test of the two-match home series against New Zealand, underway here.

This was Mendis’ eighth fifty-plus score in his first seven Tests which saw him surpass some greats of the game including Pakistan’s Saeed Ahmed, India’s Sunil Gavaskar and West Indies’ Basil Butcher, who scored six fifty-plus scores in as many matches.

Mendis has been in red-hot form since making his Test return. He enjoyed a dream run with the bat in the recently concluded three-match away series against England, registering scores 2, 113, 74, 4, and 64.

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He 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.

When this story was filed, Kamindu Mendis had successfully converted his record-equalling half-century into a magnificent century and was unbeaten on 106 off 156 deliveries with the help of 11 boundaries.

His brilliance with the bat has put Sri Lanka in a commanding position against New Zealand as the home side has accumulated 275/5 in 77 overs with Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis going strong.

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