Continuing the excellence with the bat, Sri Lanka were steadily moving towards a formidable total in the first session. Despite Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva’s stay for a brief period, Kusal Mendis accompanied Kamindu Mendis for the majority of the day with the pair orchestrating a double hundred stand. The latter’s 150 runs milestone was followed up by the former’s century, which came in some charismatic manner.
Following a double and a dot in the first couple of balls in the 163rd over, Kusal stepped down the ground on a fuller-length delivery against Glenn Phillips while at 99*. He shortened the pitch by getting near to the cork and whacked it down the ground, straight over the bowler’s head like an arrow to bring up his century with a six. Subsequently, the wicketkeeper-batter stripped off his helmet and raised the bat towards the dugout in jubilation. Generally, players tend to play a less risky stroke while nearing a milestone mark but Kusal’s audacity took the Twitterverse by storm, praising his attacking mindset.
10th Test century for Kusal Mendis.
Brilliantly batter Menda. Making that no. 07 position his own. #SLvNZ pic.twitter.com/XOzjA8youF— Naveen Peiris (@_Naviya_) September 27, 2024
Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, and Kusal Mendis scoring hundreds for Sri Lanka must have given them a strong platform in their first innings, leading to a huge total. Such collective centuries from key players often put the opposition under immense pressure, ensuring Sri Lanka…
— Nandkishor Kaushik (@NandkishorRAGA) September 27, 2024
His day
Dominating
Sri Lanka dominates with Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, and Kusal Mendis’ centuries, setting up a mammoth first-innings total, thrilling fans worldwide!
— balawalqayoom (@balawalqayoom) September 27, 2024
Congratulations @KusalMendis13.
Kusal Mendis scored his 10th Test century in the second Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand; Sri Lanka were 592/5 in the first innings a short while ago-— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) September 27, 2024
Good performance
Fantastic performance by Sri Lanka! 🌟 Century makers Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis, and Kusal Mendis have really set the stage on fire. This is the kind of batting depth that can make Sri Lanka a formidable team in the #WTC25. Looking forward to seeing how New Zealand…
— Sakthinesan B (@sakthinesanb) September 27, 2024
Well played
Kamindu Mendis has 5⃣ Hundreds & 4⃣ Fifties in just 13 Test innings. 🙌#kamindumendis #KusalMendis #SLvNZ pic.twitter.com/dNqt8sDWEz
— Rajesh Singh (@THEVAJRA85) September 27, 2024
Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis score hundreds as Sri Lanka post a massive first-innings total pic.twitter.com/beffPXhZlH
— virat kohli parody (@AMANKUMARO85114) September 27, 2024
Tenth hundred
Joined elite list
Sri Lanka declaring with Kamindu Mendis charging for everything, completed 1000 runs, joined Sir Don Bradman in an elite list, but stranded on 182*.#SLvsNZ #KaminduMendis #KusalMendis pic.twitter.com/bhAyLZXgd0
— Short Leg (@IndianSportans) September 27, 2024
