Galle(Sri Lanka): Talented Sri Lankan batter Kamindu Mendis has owned yet another record as he became the second fastest player to complete 1,000 Test runs in terms of matches. Mendis achieved this significant feat during the second Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle International Stadium here on Friday, September 27, 2024.
The right-hand batter played a marathon innings in the first innings of the second Test and he amassed 182 runs off 250 balls with the help of 16 fours and four sixes. During his innings, on Thursday, created world record, becoming first cricketer to smash fifties in eight consecutive Test matches after debut and surpassed Pakistan batter Saud Shakeel and India's legendary batter Sunil Gavaskar's feat.
Mendis came into bat at number five and helped Sri Lanka to build on the solid foundation set by centurion wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Chandimal after the hosts opted to bat. The right-hand batter reached his half-century in just 52 balls during the final over of the day as the hosts walked back to the dressing room in a dominating position with 306 runs on the board.
Resuming the day two, Mendis continued to play his shots and didn't looked in any kind of trouble. The 25-year-old reached a rare milestone of becoming the third fastest batter to amass 1000 Test runs in just 13 innings, joining a rare bunch and the fastest to get there since 1949, immediately Sri Lanka declared.