NEW DELHI: Kamindu Mendis continued his impressive form, scoring a magnificent 114 to lead Sri Lanka to a total of 302-7 on the first day of the opening Test against New Zealand in Galle on Wednesday.
Despite choosing to bat first, Sri Lanka found themselves in trouble at 106-4, but Kamindu's fourth Test century helped the home side surpass the 300-run mark, reported Reuters. At the close of play, Ramesh Mendis was unbeaten on 14, with Prabath Jayasuriya yet to score.
New Zealand's William O'Rourke (3-54) troubled the Sri Lankan top order with his aggressive bowling. Dimuth Karunaratne (two) fell victim to the extra bounce generated by O'Rourke, while Pathum Nissanka (27) was dismissed by a fiery yorker.
Angelo Mathews (36) and Dinesh Chandimal (30) steadied the innings, but Mathews had to leave the field after being struck on the right index finger by an O'Rourke delivery.
Captain Tim Southee dismissed Chandimal, and Glenn Phillips claimed the wicket of Sri Lanka skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (11) with his second ball. Mathews returned to the crease but was eventually removed by O'Rourke just before tea.
Kamindu, who had scored seven 50-plus scores in his previous 10 Test innings, was dropped on 21 by Phillips at midwicket. He reached his hundred with a cover drive off spinner Rachin Ravindra, receiving a standing ovation from his teammates.
Kamindu shared a 103-run partnership with Kusal Mendis, who made 50 before being caught in an unusual manner. Kusal pulled a short delivery from Phillips into the body of Tom Latham at short-leg, with the ball bouncing off Latham's arm and into the hands of a diving Southee at midwicket.
Ajaz Patel finally ended Kamindu's outstanding innings when the ball landed on footmarks and bounced sharply. Kamindu, attempting a cut shot, could only glove the ball to Daryl Mitchell, who moved across from slip to take the catch.
