Wed Sep 18 14:22:54 UTC 2024: ## Sri Lanka Fight Back to Reach 302/7 on Day 1 of First Test Against New Zealand

**Galle, Sri Lanka:** Sri Lanka fought back from a shaky start to reach 302/7 at stumps on the first day of the first Test against New Zealand at the Galle International Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.

Kamindu Mendis, the player of the series for Sri Lanka in their recent tour of England, played a crucial role in the hosts’ recovery. He scored a courageous century (114 runs) and helped steady the team after they slumped to 106/4 just after lunch.

“It’s a special hundred this one, as this came in my hometown,” said Mendis. “I should have gone on to get a big one, but I couldn’t do much about that ball.”

Mendis, a versatile all-rounder, put on a vital 103-run stand with Kusal Mendis (58 runs) to help Sri Lanka reach a respectable first innings total.

Earlier, rookie New Zealand fast bowler William O’Rourke had rattled Sri Lanka’s top order, taking two wickets to put the hosts in early trouble. He dismissed both openers, Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka, before removing Dhananjaya de Silva and Angelo Mathews to finish with figures of 4/79.

However, the Black Caps were unable to capitalize on their early momentum as Sri Lanka fought back to dominate the latter part of the day.

“Honours are pretty even at the end of day one,” said O’Rourke, giving credit to the Sri Lankan batters for their recovery. “We are looking forward to knocking them over soon.”

The first Test will have a rest day on Saturday due to Sri Lanka’s presidential election, with the second Test also scheduled to be played in Galle from September 26. World Test Championship points are at stake, with New Zealand currently in third place and Sri Lanka in fifth.

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