Kamindu Mendis has made history by becoming the first cricketer to score a half-century in each of his first eight Test innings. The Sri Lankan batter achieved this incredible feat during the second Test against New Zealand at Galle International Stadium.
On Day 1, Mendis remained unbeaten at 51, continuing his stellar form in Test cricket. His performance has not only helped Sri Lanka take control of the match but also set a world record, surpassing the previous record held by Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel.
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Kamindu Mendis pips Saud Shakeel to create history
Mendis became the first player in Test history to score 50-plus runs in eight consecutive innings since his debut. The 25-year-old came in at number five and strengthened Sri Lanka's innings after centurion Dinesh Chandimal already got the team in a strong position.
Mendis reached his fifty in just 52 balls. His record-breaking innings also broke the previous record of seven consecutive fifties, held by Saud Shakeel.
MORE: Kamindu Mendis' splendid start to his Test career detailed
| Player | Country | Half-centuries in consecutive Tests after debut |
|---|---|---|
| Kamindu Mendis | Sri Lanka | 8 |
| Saud Shakeel | Pakistan | 7 |
| Sunil Gavaskar | India | 6 |
| Basil Butcher | West Indies | 6 |
| Saeed Ahmed | Pakistan | 6 |
How has Kamindu Mendis' Test career been so far?
Kamindu Mendis debuted for Sri Lanka against Australia in 2022 at the same Galle venue. Since then, he has made a lasting impact in the longest format.
In just eight matches, he has scored 873 runs at an impressive average of 79.36, including four centuries and five fifties. His consistent performances have cemented his place as one of Sri Lanka's rising stars in international cricket.
| Inns | Runs | HS | Avg | 100s | 50s |
| 13 | 873 | 164 | 79.36 | 4 | 5 |
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Sri Lanka looking for a series win
Sri Lanka is in a strong position in the second Test and is looking to win their first series over New Zealand in 15 years. They won the first match by 63 runs and are now looking to finish off the series in style.
A win in this series would not only break a long drought but also eliminate New Zealand from the race for the World Test Championship final.
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