Kamindu Mendis showcased his remarkable talent with a resilient century, guiding Sri Lanka to a strong position at 302 for seven at stumps on the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand on Wednesday.
The hosts faced a precarious situation at 106 for four shortly after lunch, but Mendis, named player of the series during Sri Lanka's recent tour of England, steadied the innings with his calm demeanor. His impressive knock of 114 came to an end just before the close of play, when he was caught slipping off the bowling of Ajaz Patel.
"It's a special hundred this one, as this came in my hometown," Mendis expressed after the day's play. "I should have gone on to get a big one, but I couldn't do much about that ball."
Mendis, an all-rounder known for his ambidextrous batting and bowling, has already made a significant impact in his seventh Test match, accumulating over 800 runs with four centuries and four half-centuries to his name.
Sri Lanka was in a challenging position at 178 for five going into tea, but a pivotal 103-run partnership between Kamindu and Kusal Mendis turned the tide. Kusal contributed a solid half-century before falling to an unusual dismissal, where a ball ricocheted off Tom Latham at short leg, leading to a catch by skipper Tim Southee.
New Zealand's rookie fast bowler William O'Rourke made an early impression, claiming two crucial wickets before lunch. Despite the absence of veteran pace bowler Matt Henry, O'Rourke's performance proved instrumental as he bowled Dimuth Karunaratne and later dismissed Pathum Nissanka with a well-executed yorker.
Sri Lankan skipper Dhananjaya de Silva's dismissal to part-time bowler Glenn Phillips added to the pressure, while Angelo Mathews returned to bat after an injury but was dismissed shortly before tea, leaving Sri Lanka needing a solid recovery.
At the end of the day, O'Rourke remarked that "honours are pretty even" but acknowledged the Sri Lankan batsmen's efforts to regain control of the match. "We are looking forward to knocking them over soon," he added, as the Kiwis prepare for their innings on Thursday.
This series marks a critical juncture for both teams, with World Test Championship points at stake. New Zealand sits third on the table, trailing India and Australia, while Sri Lanka is currently in fifth place. The first Test is set against the stunning backdrop of the 17th-century Galle Fort, with a rest day scheduled on Saturday for Sri Lanka’s presidential election.
The second test will also be held in Galle, starting September 26.
