CRICKET – Sri Lanka took complete control of the second Test against New Zealand yesterday as batting sensation Kamindu Mendis scored the fifth century of his young career and helped the hosts post a mammoth 602-5 declared on day two in Galle.
New Zealand were 22-2 at stumps, still trailing by 580 runs, after Asitha Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya struck early blows to remove both openers.
Local boy Kamindu, who made a hundred in the opening Test, ground the Black Caps to dust during his unbeaten 182 earlier as he became the fastest Asian to 1,000 Test runs by reaching the milestone in his 13th innings.
The left-hander got there in superb style, stepping out and hitting a huge six off Rachin Ravindra, to better the effort of India’s Vinod Kambli in 1994 by an innings.
He also joined Australian great Don Bradman as the second-quickest to the mark after Herbert Sutcliffe and Everton Weekes managed it in 12 innings.
Kamindu stitched together an unbroken 200-run stand with Kusal Mendis, who scored his 10th century and was not out on 106 when Sri Lanka declared their first innings.
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