Sat Sep 28 03:03:44 UTC 2024: ## Sri Lanka Dominate New Zealand in Second Test, Mendis Joins Elite Club

**Galle, Sri Lanka:** Kamindu Mendis continued his impressive form, reaching a landmark 1,000 Test runs in just his 13th innings, equalling the feat achieved by legendary batsman Don Bradman. Sri Lanka, fueled by Mendis’s blistering century and Kusal Mendis’s resilient 106, declared their first innings on a mammoth 602-5, leaving New Zealand with a daunting task to avoid another defeat.

Mendis, who reached his fifth Test century before lunch, celebrated his 1,000th run with a towering six. This remarkable achievement made him the fastest Sri Lankan and Asian to reach the milestone, surpassing the likes of Roy Dias and Vinod Kambli.

Kusal Mendis, who has been struggling for form recently, showcased his resilience with a measured century, partnering with Kamindu for an unbroken 200-run stand, the highest sixth-wicket stand for Sri Lanka against New Zealand on home soil.

The Kiwis missed crucial opportunities to curb Sri Lanka’s momentum, with Daryl Mitchell dropping Mendis on 26 and Tom Blundell missing a straightforward stumping when he was on 113.

New Zealand’s woes continued as they lost both openers early in their innings, leaving them reeling at 22-2 by stumps.

“It’s a tough ask for us now,” said New Zealand’s Luke Ronchi. “We need to take the game as deep as possible.”

With three full days of play remaining, New Zealand faces an uphill battle to salvage the match and avoid a series whitewash.

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