2024-03-22 18:25:29
5 wickets not out for 57 runs. The number of wickets could have increased. But Mahmudul Hasan Joy missed Kamindu Mendis’ catch slip. Kamindu paired with skipper Dhananjaya de Silva after getting life for zero runs. Their pair of 202 runs in the sixth wicket pair pushed Bangladesh on the backfoot. Both batsmen got centuries. Stopped at the same 102 runs. Sri Lanka scored 280 runs in their first innings.
At the end of the first day’s game, Centurion Mendis raised the wave of satisfaction. But he did not hesitate to say that it was not easy to bat on the wicket, ‘It was not easy to bat on this wicket. We lost 5 wickets to score 57 runs. We thought we would bat for a long time. Give yourself time. We have moved forward with this idea.’
After settling in the wicket, two batsmen scored runs in each attack. Mendis was more aggressive. He scored 11 fours and 3 sixes in an innings of 102 runs off 127 balls. Mendis very excited about his performance, ‘I am very happy. This is my second test match. Our test team is ready. So opportunities are hard to come by. I have worked hard for the last few years. I am happy with my performance. I am grateful to the seniors in whose presence I have learned a lot. All those things contributed to getting today’s century.’
“Losing 5 wickets within 50 runs is unusual. Sometimes it can happen in Test cricket. Their pace bowlers bowled well. The wicket also helped the pacers. And the weather was terrible.’- added Mendis.
Dhananjaya and Mendis studied together at Richmond College, Galle. A happy Mendis can take the team to a respectable place by batting in partnership with his elder brother Dhananjaya, ‘We studied in the same school. I consider Dhananjaya as a senior cricketer. Very happy to play with him who is also our Test captain.’
Bangladesh are on the backfoot after losing 3 wickets in the late afternoon. The burden of 248 runs is still on the head. Mendis wants to put more pressure on Bangladesh on the second day, ‘Our pacers have got a good start. Got 3 wickets within 30 runs. Hopefully we can pick up one or more wickets early in the morning. Then it will be easier to hold them back.’