Kamindu Mendis continued his remarkable start to Test cricket by scoring his fourth century on day one of the first Test against New Zealand in Galle.
The 25-year-old left-hander, who scored a hundred and two fifties in the recent series against England, dragged Sri Lanka to 302-7 with 114 from 171 balls.
He now has four centuries in his first seven Tests and eight scores of 50 or more in his 11 innings.
The knock took his average to 80.90 with only the legendary Australian Sir Don Bradman’s mark of 99.94 better among batters to have played a minimum of 10 innings.
Were Kamindu to score 50 or more in the second innings he would join India great Sunil Gavaskar on nine 50+ scores – the most by any batter in his first seven Tests.
Only three players – Bradman, plus West Indies duo George Headley and Everton Weekes – have scored five hundreds in their first seven Tests.
England’s Harry Brook made a similarly impressive start to his career when he scored four hundreds in his first six Tests after his debut in 2022.
Having batted at number seven against England, Kamindu was promoted to number five against the Black Caps and came to the crease at 69-2 when Angelo Mathews retired hurt after being hit on the finger.
The hosts were soon 106-4 but Kamindu shared a partnership of 72 with the returning Mathews and 103 with Kusal Mendis, who was the next highest scorer with 50.
Kamindu was eventually dismissed in the penultimate over of the day when he attempted to cut a spinning delivery from Ajaz Patel and was caught off the glove.
Kamindu scored 61 against Australia in his one Test innings in 2022 but has hit sparkling form since being recalled to face Bangladesh in March this year.
He followed a 102 in the first innings of the first Test with 164 in the second innings and made 92 not out a week later.
Against England he scored 113 in the first Test at Old Trafford, 74 at Lord’s and 64 in the series finale at The Oval.
