Sri Lanka’s rising star, Kamindu Mendis, has achieved a historic feat by equalling a world Test record, becoming only the second cricketer to score 50-plus runs in each of his first seven Test matches. He joins Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel as the only other player to reach this incredible milestone.

The left-hander reached his eighth 50-plus score during the first day of the opening Test against New Zealand in Galle. This achievement puts him ahead of cricket greats such as India’s legend Sunil Gavaskar, Pakistan’s Saeed Ahmed, and West Indies’ Basil Butcher, all of whom managed fifty-plus scores in their first six Test matches.

Since making his Test debut in July 2022 against Australia, Kamindu Mendis has been in sensational form. He consistently registered at least one fifty-plus score in each of his first six Test matches, a record that he extended during the Galle Test against New Zealand. On this occasion, Mendis didn’t just stop at a half-century—he went on to score a century, further solidifying his place as a key player for Sri Lanka.

Mendis’ record breaking century helped Sri Lanka post a competitive total on the first day, with the team crossing the 300-run mark. His innings of 114 runs off 173 balls was cut short when New Zealand spinner Ajaz Patel dismissed him on the third delivery of the 87th over, just before the close of play.