Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis made history during the second Test against New Zealand on Friday, becoming the joint-third fastest player to reach 1,000 Test runs, equaling the record held by Australia’s cricket legend, Don Bradman. The 25-year-old achieved the milestone in just 13 innings, smashing a six off Rachin Ravindra to mark the occasion.
Earlier in the day, Mendis celebrated his fifth Test century, making him the fastest Asian batter to achieve this feat. He now ranks fourth in the all-time list of fastest players to score five Test centuries.
On Thursday, Mendis set a new world record for the most consecutive fifty-plus scores since his Test debut, notching up eight half-centuries since his first match against Australia two years ago.
Mendis’s remarkable innings of 182 not out from 250 deliveries further underlined his dominance at the crease. His rapid progression to 1,000 Test runs in just 13 innings places him alongside Sir Don Bradman on the list of fastest batters to reach this landmark, with only Herbert Sutcliffe and Sir Everton Weekes ahead of them.
Since his Test debut in 2022 against Australia, Mendis has led the charge in 2024, becoming the batter with the most Test centuries this year. His five centuries place him ahead of former England captain Joe Root by one.
Mendis’s monumental century, along with impressive centuries from Dinesh Chandimal (116 from 208 balls) and Kusal Mendis (106 not out from 149 balls), powered Sri Lanka to a commanding total of 602/5 declared.
Sri Lanka previously won the first Test by 63 runs, putting them in a strong position in the series.
Source: Sportstar/CNBCTV18
