GALLE – Sri Lanka on Friday strengthened an already iron grip on the second Test against New Zealand after lunch as Kamindu Mendis completed a fifth Test century in his 13th innings, and Kusal Mendis hit 20th half-century here.
Sri Lankan pair added 117 runs in the second session as they reached 519 for 5, with the pitch beginning to respond to the spinners in the afternoon, and more batting still to come for Sri Lanka.
The all-Mendis partnership is the third 100-plus stand in the innings, which has also featured a 97-run partnership, and a 74-run one. Kamindu is the second centurion of the innings, to follow Chandimal, who hit 116, mostly on day one.
New Zealand's bowling figures have taken a battering. Ajaz Patel has conceded 135 without taking a wicket, while Mitchell Santner has given away a wicketless 82 as well, though has been the tightest of New Zealand's bowlers.
The only real chance in the afternoon session came when Kamindu was beaten in the flight by Ajaz, and ran past sharply-turning delivery. However, Tom Blundell, who has had a modest series behind the stumps, did not get glove to that ball, and Kamindu was reprieved on 112. They had also reviewed an lbw appeal against him when he was on 105, but the projection had the ball turning down the leg side. He'd also been given out caught behind on 113, but the ball had brushed pad rather than bat, and the review saved him.
Kamindu went to tea with 957 Test runs to his name. Should he get another 43 in this innings, he will be the fastest batter to 1000 Test runs since 1950, in terms of number of innings played.
In the morning session, Phillips had created the most changes, getting one to bounce on Angelo Mathews, who top edged a sweep to short fine leg, to be out for 88. Phillips also struck in the final over before lunch another top edge, off Dhananjaya de Silva this time, gobbled up by Blundell, who tracked it to short leg.
Kamindu had begun the day on 51 and progressed largely smoothly to 93 by the break. When he got to his century early in the afternoon, his celebrations were reserved as usual. – Courtesy ESPNcricinfo