SL vs NZ | Mendis duo's centuries dominate Kiwis as Sri Lanka charge into day three

Arijit Kundu

ByArijit Kundu, SportsCafe Editor

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Sri Lanka leads by 580 runs at the end of the second day in the last Test against New Zealand. Kamindu Mendis’ 182* and Kusal Mendis 106* steered the hosts to 602 runs in the first wicket before Asitha Fernando and Prabath Jayasuriya scalped a wicket each to keep the Kiwis under pressure.

Aiming to extend their first innings tally, Angelo Mathews looked scratchy against Glenn Phillips and eventually got out to him in the 97th over, ending a 107-run stand. Dhananjaya de Silva came into the scene, assisting Kamindu in playing his natural game. The pair quickly brought up the fifty-run stand with the hosts inching near the 400-run mark. Right after, Phillips struck once again by getting the better of the Sri Lankan captain for 44 at the stroke of Lunch with 402/5 on board.

Under Kusal Mendis’ presence, Kamindu got to his fifth Test century in seven games at the start of the second session. Initially, Kusal played second fiddle to the centurion who was trying to attack the bowlers. With time, as the ball got older, Kusal smacked the spinners left, right, and center to steer Sri Lanka past the 500-run mark in the 144th over. With Tim Southee handed the ball before Tea, the pair negated him carefully with the score reflecting 519/5 in 149 overs.

The grind continued with the ball for the Kiwis as the Mendis tag team kept them at bay. However, Kamindu took the aggressor’s role and raced past the 150 runs mark in the third session with Kusal anchoring the innings until reaching his century with a six while staying on 99*. Subsequently, the duo touched the 600-run mark with a six off Kamindu, also bringing up the double hundred partnership before Dhananjaya summoned for declaration with 602 runs on board. 

In reply, New Zealand got off to a shaky start after Tom Latham nicked one to a flying slip fielder in the first over itself. While Asitha Fernando mixed some poor deliveries with peach stuff, the finger spinners kept things tight for the remainder of the day with Prabath Jayasuriya tasting success over Devon Conway amidst a controversial catch. Nightwatchman Ajaz Patel was successful in withstanding the opposition attack with Kane Williamson with the score 22/2 at Stumps.

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