Thu Sep 19 08:09:23 UTC 2024: ## Sri Lanka on Top After Mendis Century on Day 1 of First Test
**Galle, Sri Lanka:** Kamindu Mendis smashed a brilliant century to rescue Sri Lanka from a precarious position, guiding them to a respectable 302-7 at stumps on Day 1 of the first Test against New Zealand.
Mendis, promoted to number five, continued his impressive form, notching his fourth Test century in just his seventh match. He reached his ton with a boundary off Rachin Ravindra and remained unbeaten on 114 at the end of play.
New Zealand started strong, reducing Sri Lanka to 178-5, but Mendis, in a crucial 103-run stand with Kusal Mendis (50), steadied the ship. Kusal Mendis, however, fell in an unusual fashion, caught by Tim Southee off Glenn Phillips.
Ajaz Patel, despite a largely ineffective day, finally dismissed the in-form Mendis with just five minutes remaining, providing New Zealand with a crucial breakthrough.
Earlier, William O’Rourke, playing his first Test in Asia, impressed with the ball, taking three wickets. He removed both openers, Pathum Nissanka (27) and Dimuth Karunaratne (2), and forced Angelo Mathews to retire hurt after striking him on the right index finger.
Phillips also contributed with two wickets, including the dismissal of Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva.
Despite a late collapse, Sri Lanka will be pleased with their overall performance, particularly Mendis’s superb innings. They will look to build on this momentum on Day 2 and aim for a score well over 350.
New Zealand, meanwhile, will need to regroup and take early wickets to restrict Sri Lanka’s lead and put themselves back in the game.
The second Test begins on September 26, also at Galle.
First Piper 