Sri Lanka’s all-rounder, Kamindu Mendis, has made history by becoming the first cricketer to score a half-century in each of his first eight Test matches.

Mendis achieved this remarkable milestone during the second Test against New Zealand at Galle International Cricket Stadium. Coming in at No. 5, he played a pivotal role in establishing a strong position for Sri Lanka on Day 1, finishing with an unbeaten 51 off 56 balls, which included eight boundaries and a six.

With this achievement, Mendis surpasses Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel, who previously held the record for half-centuries in his first seven matches. He also eclipses legendary cricketers like Bert Sutcliffe, Saeed Ahmed, Basil Butcher, and Sunil Gavaskar, all of whom recorded six consecutive 50+ scores from their Test debuts.

In his first eight Test appearances, Mendis has now accumulated four centuries and five half-centuries, a feat unmatched since the inception of Test cricket in 1877. At the close of Day 1 against New Zealand, Sri Lanka stood at 306/3, with Mendis and Angelo Mathews (78*) contributing to an unbroken 85-run partnership.

Earlier in the day, Dinesh Chandimal laid a solid foundation for the hosts with an impressive 116 runs. Mendis had also delivered a composed century in the first Test against New Zealand, rescuing Sri Lanka from a precarious 106 for four by scoring 114 runs before being dismissed late in the innings.

His efforts, alongside a crucial 103-run partnership with Kusal Mendis, helped Sri Lanka reach 302 for seven by the end of Day 1.

New Zealand’s rookie fast bowler, William O’Rourke, made an impact by taking two early wickets before lunch, dismissing Dimuth Karunaratne for just two runs and clean bowling Pathum Nissanka, who scored 27.

Despite the early setbacks, Sri Lanka mounted a strong recovery, with Mendis at the forefront. New Zealand, currently ranked third in the World Test Championship, aims to extend their dominance over Sri Lanka, having won four series and drawn two since 2009. The historic first Test is being played in Galle, with the second match scheduled for later in September at the same venue.