Afghanistan vs South Africa Match: On the first day of the Test match Kamindu Mendis made a mark showcasing his skills. He hit his century but New Zealands resilience shone through as they took a few wickets before the day wrapped up. It was an thrilling day in Galle with New Zealand managing to stay competitive.
One of those late wickets happened to be Kamindu himself. That must have been a moment of satisfaction for the visitors considering how he got out. The ball spun dramatically from the rough patch, catching his glove on the way. Ouch! With a lineup, New Zealand may feel a bit uneasy about how the pitch is behaving.
Kamindu scored 114 runs off 173 balls, showing performance. He formed two significant partnerships during his innings; a 72 run collaboration with Angelo Mathews and a 103 run partnership with Kusal Mendis. Throughout those moments New Zealand relied on their discipline, adherence to plans and gave their all.
Sri Lanka won the toss and decided to bat but faced an tough challenge, on the grassy pitch. New Zealand didn’t allow them to seize control of the match. Will O’Rourke was impressive taking three wickets, including both openers within the hour. Glenn Phillips also contributed by taking wickets for 52 runs with his spin bowling. Mitchell Santner didn’t manage to take any wickets despite his efforts. Sometimes cricket can be unforgiving like that.
By the days end Ramesh Mendis was not out on 14 with Prabath Jayasuriya at the wicket. However it was undeniably Kamindus day.
Kamindus partnership with Kusal Mendis was particularly enjoyable to watch. Kusal scored a 50 off 68 balls showcasing a blend of aggression that complemented Kamindus steady and approach. New Zealand had a moment when they missed a chance to dismiss Kamindu when he was on 21. That’ll likely be on their minds for some time.
One thing that caught my attention during Kamindu’s innings was how effectively he used his footwork against the spinners. Instead of relying on the sweep shot he approached it strategically, choosing his moments wisely and keeping the scoreboard moving. When Sri Lanka found themselves in a spot of trouble at 106 for 4 his partnership with Mathews brought about stability. Although Mathews wasn’t in form taking 116 balls to score 36 runs he played a role in steadying the innings.
Once Mathews fell to O’Rourke (who was exceptional I must say) Sri Lanka hit their stride. Kusal Mendis took charge with his aggressive style forcing New Zealands bowlers to toil even harder. The combination of Kamindu and Kusal was impressive but Kusal’s dismissal was quite unusual—a pull shot that ricocheted off a fielder at short leg and landed safely in the hands of midwicket. Talk about a stroke of luck!
Earlier in the day New Zealand actually got off to a start. O’Rourke brightened up the gloomy morning session with his speed and movement. He dismissed both Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka early on and even managed to injure Mathews when a ball hit his right hand. Mathews had to leave the field for a bit but later returned to complete his innings.
After lunch New Zealand continued to push forward. They took three more wickets with Chandimal getting out early and Mathews being dismissed just before tea. Dhananjaya de Silva also lost his wicket in a way as Phillips delivered a stunning ball that spun through bat and pad to hit the top of off stump.
On most days this would have been a day for the visitors. However Kamindu Mendis ensured that Sri Lanka ended the day in a position of strength. He played exceptionally well securing honors for the hosts after a hard fought opening day.
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