Sri Lanka are in a commanding position in the second Test after Dinesh Chandimal, Kamindu Mendis and Kusal Mendis scored hundreds. The hosts declared their innings at Galle at 602 for five. After conceding the mammoth score, New Zealand lost both their opening batters, Tom Latham and Devon Conway, in quick succession, and were reduced to 22 for two in 14 overs.
After finishing Day 1 at 306 for three, the hosts lost the early wicket of Angelo Mathews, who scored 88 and got out to Glenn Phillips. Phillips also got the wicket of opposition skipper Dhananjaya de Silva, who made 44 off 80. From there on, the two Mendis’ – Kamindu and Kusal took charge.
Kamindu notched his fifth Test hundred off 148 balls and continued his dream run in Test cricket. He also went on to become the joint second-fastest batter to the landmark of 1000 Test runs along with the legendary Don Bradman. Herbert Sutcliffe and Everton Weekes jointly hold the record in 12 innings.
Kamindu stayed not out on 182 off 250 balls with 16 fours and four sixes. He was also involved in a partnership of 200 runs with Kusal and took Sri Lanka past the 600-run mark. Kusal also made the Black Caps’ bowlers sweat with an unbeaten 106-run knock off 149 balls, laced with six fours and three sixes.
Phillips was the only successful spinner for the Kiwis for figures of 38-4-141-3. William O’Rourke, who was stupendous in the opening Test, returned wicketless. The spin duo of Ajaz Patel and Mitchell Santner toiled hard for 74 overs without making a single breakthrough.
New Zealand got off to the worst possible start after Asitha Fernando accounted for the wicket of Tom Latham. Soon after, left-arm spinner Prabath Jayasuriya got rid of the dangerous Devon Conway, who also failed to enter double digits.
With the visitors trailing by 580 runs and eight wickets in hand, Kane Williamson and night-watchman Ajaz Patel have their task cut out on the third day.
