Record-breaking Kusal Mendis lights up Pallekelle

Kusal Mendis put his name on the record books as he pummeled his way to a maiden Test century against Australia as Sri Lanka took the upper hand on Thursday, day three of the first Test match in Pallekelle.

Almost a full day’s quota of overs have been lost due to rain or bad light in this game but the 21-year old Mendis produced one of the most captivating knocks from a Sri Lankan bat this year before he walked off the field to a standing ovation from the small crowd at around 4.00pm when the umpires suspended play due to bad light.

Mendis, unbeaten on 169 from 243 deliveries drove the home team to 282 for 6 at stumps, gaining a fighting lead of 196 runs. The youngster Mendis and Dinesh Chandimal resurrected Sri Lanka with a priceless 117-run 5th wicket stand which laid the foundation for the home team as Australia toiled hard for wickets.

Photo Album – Sri Lanka vs Australia 1st Test Match – Day 3

Earlier in the morning, Sri Lanka lost Dimuth Karunarathne in the 1st over of the day’s play when Mitchell Starc struck him plumb in front for no score. He chose to review the decision for the 2nd time in the game but the umpires’ decision was upheld, also for the 2nd time of the game.

Mendis fearlessly used the extra pace of Starc to guide the ball through the backward cover region as he started his innings on a positive note while left-arm spinner, Steve O’Keefe trapped Kaushal Silva (7) right in front of the stumps in the 13th over; yet again Sri Lanka reviewed the decision and yet again the on-field decision was upheld.

Skipper Angelo Mathews was tentative in his shot selection during his brief 31-ball stay before he was caught at bat pad off Nathan Lyon for 9 when the scores were level.

Chandimal and Mendis added 30 runs before lunch and 87 more as they rebuilt the Lankan innings. Both Chandimal and Mendis used the sweep shot to a great effect in countering the threat of Lyon. The visitors were a bowler short for much of the 2nd session as left-arm spinner Steve O’Keefe left the field with a hamstring strain in the 49th over.

Mendis had one Test fifty and one first-class hundred before this gigantic knock and the suave of his knock was astonishing as he went down on one knee and slog swept Lyon over the mid-wicket region to bring up his century, the youngest Sri Lankan ever to score a Test ton against Australia.

Chandimal scored 34 of his 42 through the leg-side before Mitchell Marsh trapped him right in front of the stumps to end the fruitful 117-run stand in the second session.

Debutant, Dhananjaya De Silva picked up from where Chandimal left as he partnered up with red-hot Mendis to accumulate 71 runs for the 6th wicket as they extended the lead excellently. De Silva fell on 36 when he miscued a drive and lobbed it straight to mid-off to present Lyon with his 200th Test wicket.

The Aussies tried different tactics such as using the reverse-swing and bowling to a field with three mid-wicket fielders but they were all in vain as Mendis gave momentous hope to a slithering team with one of the great knocks we have seen on Sri Lankan shores in quite a while.

The Aussies tried different tactics such as using the reverse-swing and bowling to a field with three mid-wicket fielders but all were in vain as Mendis gave a momentous hope to a slithering team which lacks belief on how to win games recently.