Fri Sep 27 21:03:44 UTC 2024: ## Sri Lankan Prodigy Kamindu Mendis Joins Elite Club, Breaks Records in Galle Test
**Galle, Sri Lanka:** Sri Lankan all-rounder Kamindu Mendis has etched his name alongside legendary batsman Don Bradman, becoming the joint third-fastest player to reach 1000 Test runs. The 22-year-old achieved this remarkable feat during the second Test match against New Zealand in Galle on Friday, completing 1000 runs in a mere 13 innings. This makes him the fastest to achieve this milestone since 1949, equaling Bradman’s record set in 1930.
Mendis’s accomplishment is even more noteworthy as he joins an exclusive club with only two other players, England’s Herbert Sutcliffe and West Indies’ Everton Weekes, having reached the 1000-run milestone in fewer innings.
In addition to this record, Mendis also became the first player ever to score a half-century or more in each of his first eight Tests. During the match, he brought up his fifth Test century, his second in consecutive matches, showcasing his consistent form and batting prowess.
Mendis’s performance in the Galle Test was nothing short of exceptional. He finished the innings not out with a stunning 182 runs off 250 balls, hitting 16 boundaries and four sixes, ultimately falling short of a double century due to Sri Lanka’s declaration. This accomplishment also makes him the fastest Sri Lankan to reach 1000 runs, surpassing Roy Dias’s previous record of 23 innings. He is also the fastest Asian to achieve this milestone, surpassing India’s Vinod Kambli who reached the feat in 14 innings.
Teammate Angelo Mathews praised Mendis’s maturity and positive approach to the game, stating, “Kamindu Mendis has been sensational for us this year. He is doing stuff that none of us were able to do early in our careers.” Mathews highlighted Mendis’s ability to adapt to various conditions, adding, “He was player of the series in Bangladesh this year when wickets weren’t the easiest to bat on. Then, when we went to England, it was seaming all over, and he batted so beautifully. Now, here, on turning tracks, he has looked a class apart.”
Mendis’s stellar performance wasn’t limited to individual achievement. He formed a formidable partnership with Kusal Mendis, who also scored his tenth Test century. Together, they built an unbroken 200-run partnership, establishing a new record for the highest sixth-wicket stand for Sri Lanka against New Zealand on home soil. This partnership also set a new record for the highest sixth-wicket stand in Galle by any team, further cementing Sri Lanka’s dominance.
Kamindu Mendis’s extraordinary talent and record-breaking performance have not only solidified his position as a rising star in Sri Lankan cricket but also ignited hopes for a brighter future for the team. His performance is sure to inspire his teammates and fans alike, setting the stage for a potential series sweep against New Zealand.
First Piper 