Kamindu Mendis showcased his remarkable talent for Sri Lanka during the second Test against New Zealand, hitting his fifth hundred in just 13 innings – a testament to his extraordinary start in Test cricket.

Stellar performance in Galle by Kamindu Mendis

The milestone was achieved on Day 2 of the match at the Galle International Stadium, where Kamindu’s performance propelled Sri Lanka past the 400-run mark. Mendis reached his century in 147 balls, marking his second ton of the series and his third fifty-plus score in as many innings. His innings included a significant partnership with Angelo Mathews, as the duo amassed a 100-run stand for the fourth wicket in 125 balls during the first session of the second day. This performance underscored Kamindu’s pivotal role in stabilizing the Sri Lankan innings.

Contributions from Teammates

Earlier, Dimuth Karunaratne provided a solid start with 46 runs before being run out. Dinesh Chandimal played a pivotal role, scoring 116 off 208 balls, and showcasing resilience at the crease. Mathews contributed significantly with 88 runs, anchoring the innings effectively. Dhananjaya de Silva added 44 runs, while Kamindu remained unbeaten on 113, accelerating the scoring towards the end. Sri Lanka demonstrated depth in batting and so far reached 445/5, capitalizing on the New Zealand bowling attack, particularly Glenn Phillips, who took three wickets.

Historic achievements for Sri Lanka

Mendis’ fifth century not only highlights his rapid ascent in Test cricket but also places him among the legends of the game. He is now joint-third fastest to five Test hundreds from debut, equaling the likes of Don Bradman and George Headley, both achieving the feat in 13 innings. Only Everton Weekes (10 innings), Herbert Sutcliffe (12 innings) and Robert Harvey (12 innings) have reached this milestone quicker.

Additionally, Kamindu has set a new Asian record, eclipsing Pakistan’s Fawad Alam, who reached five centuries in 22 innings, while also surpassing Aravinda de Silva‘s Sri Lankan record of five hundreds in 38 innings. With his performances this year, Kamindu has overtaken Joe Root for the most Test hundreds, with five to his name.

Also WATCH: Dimuth Karunaratne loses cool at Dinesh Chandimal after his unfortunate run out | SL vs NZ, 2nd Test

On track for further milestones

Kamindu is also on the brink of becoming the fastest Asian to reach 1,000 Test runs, having already crossed the 900-run mark in just 13 innings. Vinod Kambli currently holds the record for the quickest Asian to 1,000 runs, achieving the milestone in 14 innings. Kamindu’s stellar performance against New Zealand not only cements his status as a rising star but also raises expectations for his future contributions to Sri Lankan cricket.

Here’s how Fans reacted:

Kamindu Mendis has more hundreds in 2024 than Joe Root 😌 #SLvNZ

— Estelle Vasudevan (@Estelle_Vasude1) September 27, 2024

Kamindu Mendis Bhau!

What a start to his Test career! Another ton, just like that!#SLvNZ

— Nikhil 🏏 (@CricCrazyNIKS) September 27, 2024

Kamindu Mendis is seriously the next BIG thing in Sri Lankan cricket.

Scoring his 5th Hundred in just 13th innings is unbelievable.

— Aditya Saha (@Adityakrsaha) September 27, 2024

Kamindu Mendis is on one of the great batting streaks in test history. 5th hundred in 8 tests!

— Joy Bhattacharjya (@joybhattacharj) September 27, 2024

Another century by Kamindu Mendis. A 5th hundred in 13 innings, with 4 half-centuries. This guy is operating on a different plane. #nzvsl pic.twitter.com/sUXZxlUa3G

— Ajay Kaul (@ajaykaul10) September 27, 2024

This guy from Srilanka, Kamindu Mendis has been on a roll for a few weeks now. Another century. 5th test hundred in just 8 games(13innings). Brilliant start to his test career this.

— Bhawana (@cricbhawana) September 27, 2024

5️⃣th Test hundred for Kamindu Mendis 🏏👏#cricket #SLvsNZ #KaminduMendis #SriLankaCricket #CricketTwitter pic.twitter.com/HqwQpBArsM

— CricketTimes.com (@CricketTimesHQ) September 27, 2024

Kamindu ‘Don’ Mendis. He ticks off another Test ton.

13 Test innings
4 fifties
5* centuries

A magnificent start to his Test career. 👏🏻 pic.twitter.com/0jd8rHEWii

— Omkar Mankame (@Oam_16) September 27, 2024

RIDICULOUS. Yet another Test century for Kamindu Mendis, his FIFTH in 13 innings to start his career!#SLvNZ pic.twitter.com/dwhCPGSC7x

— CricBlog ✍ (@cric_blog) September 27, 2024

I’m looking forward to see how far Kamindu Mendis can go far in test cricket.Can he sustain this level of form in 50 tests? The way he batted in England on his 1st tour is a sign that he can.He will have his challenges along the way but the future is bright for him & SL cricket.

— Troll cricket unlimitedd (@TUnlimitedd) September 27, 2024

Also READ: Fans react as Dinesh Chandimal hits a stunning century in the 2nd Test against New Zealand

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