Kusal Mendis Maiden Ton Gives Lanka Hope in Pallekele Test vs Aussies
Kusal Mendis slammed a workmanlike century to deny Australian bowlers on Day 3 of the first Test at Pallekele
- NDTVSports
- Updated: July 28, 2016 04:41 PM IST
Highlights
- Sri Lanka collapsed to 117 all on the opening day
- In second innings, Mendis and Chandimal produced 117 for fifth wicket
- The Test match has been dominated by slow bowlers
Kusal Mendis may have played the innings of the first Test as Sri Lanka played themselves to a position of strength before bad light stopped play on Day 3 of the first Test against Australia in Pallekele on Thursday. Mendis was unbeaten on 169 as Lanka ended the day at 282 for six, a lead of 196 runs.
The 21-year-old's maiden Test ton could not have come at a better time in this bowlers' dominated contest. Sri Lanka needed someone to stand up to the Australian bowlers and despite a poor start, the Lankans were 86 for 4 - Mendis fought it out with Dinesh Chandimal in company.
Mendis and Chandimal produced 117 runs for the fifth wicket and this could turn out to be a match-winning one with two days left on a pitch that has largely favoured the slow bowlers.
Mendis remained unbeaten on a match-high 86 to help Sri Lanka weather a wobbly morning and reach 116 for four at lunch. Chandimal was unbeaten on seven at the other end as the hosts erased the 86-run first innings deficit and led by 30 with six wickets in hand at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium.
After collapsing for 117 on the opening day and conceding a handy first-innings lead, Sri Lanka could not afford a second batting collapse but the hosts received an early jolt after resuming on six for one on Thursday.
Australia fast bowler Mitchell Starc struck with the third delivery of the morning, trapping Dimuth Karunaratne leg before for the second time in the match.
Steve O'Keefe dismissed Kaushal Silva leg before and spin partner Nathan Lyon sent back home captain Angelo Mathews (nine) soon after switching to bowling round the wicket against the right-handed batsman.
Mendis, however, looked unfazed and went on to score his highest Test score, also the first fifty in the low-scoring match, and remained not out after hitting 13 boundaries, including two in a David Warner over close to the lunch break.
(With inputs from Reuters)