On Friday, Sri Lanka’s Kamindu Mendis equalled Don Bradman for the number of innings taken to reach 1000 Test runs, becoming the fastest in 75 years to reach the milestone.
In the second Test of the sides’ two-Test series in Galle, Sri Lankan captain Dhananjaya de Silva had chosen to bat first on day one (Thursday). Despite losing opener Pathum Nissanka in the very first over, the day well and truly belonged to the batting side as Dinesh Chandimal (116) and Angelo Mathews (78*) helped them to 306-3 at stumps.
On day two, Mathews and Kamindu Mendis resumed batting for the hosts. Mathews was the first wicket to fall on the day, mistiming a sweep off Glenn Phillips to be caught for 88. Dhananjaya de Silva then fell for 44 on the final ball before lunch.
In the second session, Kusal Mendis joined Kamindu in the middle, and the left-hander went on to score his fifth Test century in just his 13th innings in the format.
The pair piled on the runs for Sri Lanka, and both players soon closed in on significant milestones – Kusal on a century and Kamindu on the 1000-run mark in Test cricket.
Kamindu Mendis equals Bradman, becomes fastest in 75 years to score 1000 Test runs
After tea, both players stepped on the accelerator, in order to help their side declare as soon as possible. Kamindu moved past 150 in his innings with some ease, gaining on the 178 he required in this knock to notch up 1000 Test runs and going past it in the final session of the day, with a six over long off.
By reaching it in 13 innings, he matched the time taken by Donald Bradman to score 1000 Test runs, and became the fastest player to the mark in terms of innings batted, for 75 years.
In 1949, West Indies’ Everton Weekes managed to score 1000 runs in 12 Test innings, which remains the record. England’s Herbert Sutcliffe was the first to do it in 12 innings, in 1925.
In terms of matches played, Kamindu is the second-fastest ever to 1000 runs, doing so in his eighth match. Bradman is the fastest here, as he did it in seven matches.
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