Prolific middle-order batter Kamindu Mendis struck a fine hundred to rescue Sri Lanka from a precarious position as the hosts reached 302-7 at stumps on Day 1 of the first test against New Zealand.

Follow live coverage of Sri Lanka vs New Zealand from the New Zealand in Sri Lanka 2024 today.The ICC Test Championship sees nine teams compete across a two-year cycle of matches before a two-team final decides the winner.

The fifth fastest test century by a Sri Lankan was made by middle-order batter Kithuruwan Vithanage on the tour of Bangladesh in 2013-14.

Batting in his only 11th Test innings, Kamindu Mendis smashed his fourth Test century to set a new record for Sri Lanka in the first match against New Zealand at Galle International Stadium on Wednesday.

New Zealand were supposed to come into this Test on the back of having played Afghanistan in what would’ve been ideal preparation for a tough Sub Continental assignment. However, terrible rain saw all five scheduled days washed out and the match abandoned with a ball being bowled, which leaves the Black Caps in danger of being undercooked.

One of Sri Lanka’s most reliable batsmen of the past 15 years is Angelo Mathews, who is his nation’s third-highest test run-scorer with 7766 runs. Mathews has played in 112 test matches so far, in which he averages an impressive 45 with 16 centuries. The right-hander has a highest test score of 200*.

On the weekend, England should have completed a 3-0 sweep of Sri Lanka at The Oval and secure its first summer clean sweep since 2004. But the visitors gave England a taste of its own Bazball medicine with a thumping eight-wicket victory.

Raised the order to score even more runs, prolific middle-order batter Kamindu Mendis struck a fine hundred on Wednesday to

A sensational spell of fast bowling by New Zealand rookie William O’Rourke rocked Sri Lanka as the home side was bowled out for 305 runs in the first innings of the first cricket test on Thursday. O’Rourke,