Kamindu Mendis’ Century Puts Sri Lanka in Command as New Zealand Struggles on Day 2
Thanks to centuries from Kamindu Mendis (who became the fastest player in 75 years to reach 1,000 Test runs, equaling Don Bradman’s record) and Kusal Mendis (who finished his innings at 602 for 5 declared), Sri Lanka overpowered New Zealand on day two of the second Test, reaching 602 for 5 declared.
The second day ended with New Zealand trailing by 580 runs with 8 wickets left after Conway’s questionable fall.
Key Performances and Match Scorecard
New Zealand 22 for 2 (Williamson 6*, Ajaz 0*, Jayasuriya 1-3) trail Sri Lanka 602 for 5 dec (Kamindu 182*, Chandimal 116, Kusal 106*, Mathews 88, Phillips 3-141) by 580 runs.
Match Analysis
It was a day of huge numbers for Sri Lanka. After striking 182 not out, Kamindu Mendis became the fastest person to 1000 Test runs in 75 years. He reached the milestone at the same pace as Don Bradman and is now third only behind the greatest batter cricket has ever seen.
Together with Kamindu, Kusal Mendis scored his tenth century of his career, putting up an undefeated 200 for the sixth wicket. Overall, Sri Lanka reached 602 for 5 before announcing that Kamindu had reached the 1000-run milestone. 163.4 overs were batted by them.
It was a day of substantially lesser numbers for New Zealand. On day two, they bowled 73.4 overs and only took two wickets; the only bowler to have success was Glenn Phillips. By the conclusion of the day, they faced 14 overs, during which Devon Conway was removed for 9 after a contentious judgment by the third umpire and Tom Latham was out for 2. Their chances of actually competing in this match are dwindling as they concluded at 22 for 2. By the conclusion of the day, Sri Lanka appeared to be making significant progress on the surface, at least while using the new ball.
Kamindu increased to 93 in the morning session, making up most of his overnight advancement from 51. As usual, he scored a lot of runs square of the wicket and hardly ever went more than a few balls without making a run. Due in part to his effort with the ball, Phillips appeared to be the most likely bowler to get a wicket during this time.
Actually, Phillips would get two when Dhananjaya de Silva and Angelo Mathews attempted sweep shots, both off top edges. Just 10 more runs had been added to Mathews’ overnight total of 78, before de Silva scored 44 in Kamindu’s company.
But Sri Lanka had the whole day to themselves after lunch. Kamindu celebrated his fifth Test hundred with characteristic calm, moving to it without fuss. After lunch, Kusal struggled at first as New Zealand put together some tight periods, especially with Mitchell Santner bowling with exceptional control. However, he soon found that scoring runs was easier, especially with his potent sweep stroke.
Kamindu managed just 24 runs in his opening 71 balls, including just one four. But he started attacking, going after Phillips first, as he reached his fifty in an over in which he hit two fours and a six, before settling into a more upbeat attitude generally, with batting still to come and Sri Lanka’s total swelling enormously. He hit Ajaz Patel twice in the innings, both times leading to wicket losses and 135 over deep midwicket for six. Additionally, Kamindu sent Ajaz flying through the air for a six.
The two breezed through the middle session, retiring at 135 and 70 respectively. The evening was all about reaching significant milestones: Kamindu reached his second career century off 148 balls, and Kusal ultimately marched to his century. Subsequently, the goal was to allow Kamindu to reach 178 in order to surpass his career total of 1000 runs. As soon as Kamindu had sent Ravindra hurtling through the air, Captain de Silva said that it was the six that had brought him there.
Asitha Fernando gave New Zealand a tough spell first, as the spinner gave the left-handed openers a plenty of late swing. In the first over, one of these balls crept back in to Latham, took his edge, and sailed to a gully where Pathum Nissanka devoured it.
It was not so simple to remove the struggling Conway in the ninth over of the innings. Prabath Jayasuriya’s turning delivery was defended by Conway, and the bowler and wicketkeeper promptly appealed, presumably for the leg before wicket. Conway was ruled out by umpire Nitin Menon, but upon review, the batter saw that there had been a clear outside edge before the ball hit the thigh pad.
But once it hit the pad, the ball seemed to travel to de Silva at slip, where he made a low catch. Though it was close, the replays did not prove beyond a reasonable doubt that he had his fingers under that ball. To Conway’s chagrin, however, third umpire Raveendra Wimalasiri disqualified it.
By the end of the day, Sri Lanka’s spinners were producing so much spin that even Kane Williamson was having trouble. At stumps he and nightwatchman Ajaz were 6 off 42.
