Kamindu Mendis equals Don Bradman's record, becomes fastest Asian to score five Test centuries

Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis is breaking records with his batting. He scored his fifth century in the 13th innings of his debut in the second Test against New Zealand in Galle on Friday. This Sri Lankan batsman also scored a century in the second Test against New Zealand. 

Also Read: Ashwin with most test wickets in Asia; Breaks Kumble's Records

Kamindu has become the Asian battler to score 5 centuries in the shortest innings. He thus broke the record of Fawad Alam of Pakistan. Earlier, Fawad was the fastest Asian batsman to score 5 centuries. He scored five Test centuries in 22 innings. The record of scoring the fastest five centuries in Tests for Sri Lanka was in the name of Aravinda de Silva. He scored his fifth century in the 38th innings.

Equals Don Bradman's record

Kamindu Mendis has also equaled Sir Don Bradman in this matter by scoring his 5th century in the 13th innings. He is the joint third fastest batsman to score five centuries on debut, equaling the greats Don Bradman and George Headley in 13 innings. Bradman and Headley also scored their 5th century in the 13th innings. A day earlier, Kamindu had made a world record of scoring half-centuries in 8 consecutive Test matches.

Before Mendis, only Everton Weekes (10), Herbert Sutcliffe (12) and Robert Harvey (12) have achieved this feat. Mendis has played only 8 Tests so far and has scored five centuries in them.

Fastest to five hundreds from Test debut (innings)

• 10 – Everton Weekes (West Indies) – 1948
• 12 – Robert Harvey (Australia) – 1925
• 12 – Herbert Sutcliffe (England) – 1931
• 13 – Don Bradman (Australia) – 1930
• 13 – George Headley (West Indies) – 1931
• 13* – Kamindu Mendis (Sri Lanka) – 2024

Kamindu's innings against New Zealand

25-year-old Kamindu Mendis came to the crease in the second Test match against New Zealand when Dinesh Chandimal was out after scoring a century. He took Sri Lanka beyond 400 runs by making a partnership of 74 runs for the fifth wicket with Dhananjaya de Silva. After the dismissal of Dhananjaya, Kamindu and Kusal Mendis took the innings forward.

Also Read: Rohit Sharma creates record: first captain in 60 years to bowl first at Kanpur

Mendis' Test career

Kamindu Mendis began his Test career at home in Galle in 2022, scoring a half-century in his first innings at No. 6 against Australia. He made a Test comeback earlier this year and scored innings of 102, 164, 92* and 9 against Bangladesh in Sylhet and Chittagong. Which included consecutive centuries while batting at numbers 7 and 8. 

The left-handed batsman again took charge of the lower order on the England tour and became Sri Lanka's leading run-scorer with another century. Mendis currently holds the third-highest first-class average among active cricketers who have scored at least 2000 runs in the format.