Galle, Sri Lanka

It was a landmark day for Sri Lankan batter Kamindu Mendis after he scored an unbeaten 182 against New Zealand on Day 2 of the Galle Test on Friday (Sep 27). Mendis, who is playing in his seventh Test match for Sri Lanka went level with the great Don Bradman for the fastest 1000 Test runs in the format. At Stumps on Day 2, New Zealand closed at 22/2 in 14 overs while Sri Lanka earlier declared at 602/5 with three centurions in their ranks.

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Kamindu Mendis joins Don Bradman’s elite club

Having scored his fifth hundred in the year he overtook Joe Root for most runs in the calendar year. However, his biggest achievement was going level with Bradman for the fewest innings taken to complete 1000 Test runs. It took him 13 innings to level with Bradman and now sits second on the honorary list after Everton Weekes.

Mendis made his debut in the Test format in July 2022 against Australia and has since been an integral part of the side. He has also scored five hundreds during the same time making him the Asian player fastest to reach five Test hundreds in just 13 innings.

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Fastest to 1000 Test runs

Herbert Sutcliffe - 12 innings

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Everton Weekes - 12 innings

Kamindu Mendis - 13 innings

Don Bradman - 13 innings

Vinod Kambli - 14 innings

Sri Lanka on top after Day 2

Having won the opening Test by 63 runs, New Zealand needed a good response to stay in the hunt for a comeback. However, those hopes were dashed after Kamindu Mendis’ hundreds were coupled with tons from Dinesh Chandimal (116) and Kusal Mendis (unbeaten 106). Interestingly, former captain Angelo Mathews narrowly missed out on a hundred having been dismissed for 88 by Glenn Phillips.

Phillips was the most successful Kiwi bowler having ended with figures of 141/3 while Tim Southee scalped one.