SL vs NZ, 1st Test: Record-breaker Kamindu Mendis steers Sri Lanka on opening day

Sri Lanka (SL) vs New Zealand (NZ), 1st Test Day 1: Kamindu Mendis hit his fourth Test hundred, first in Sri Lanka, as the hosts went past 300 on a hard-fought day of Test cricket in Galle. Fast bowler William O'Rourke was the pick of the BlackCaps bowling unit on a spin-friendly surface.

In Short

• Sri Lanka reached 302 for 7 at Stumps on Day 1 in Galle
• Kamindu Mendis hit his maiden Test hundred at home for Sri Lanka
• Pacer William O'Rourke shone for New Zealand on a spin-friendly pitch on Wednesday

Sri Lanka managed to stay ahead of the proceedings on an eventful opening day of the first Test against a visiting New Zealand side in Galle on Wednesday, September 18. Kamindu Mendis's hundred was the highlight of the Sri Lankan first innings as the hosts reached Stumps at 302 for 7 in 88 overs.

Fast bowler William ORourke dominated with the ball for New Zealand on a spin-friendly pitch, picking up three wickets. The 23-year-old, who took the new ball along with his captain Tim Southee, rattled the top-order, picking up the wickets of Dimuth Karunaratne and Pathum Nissanka inside the first six overs.

Sri Lanka won the toss and opted to bat in the first home Test, which came weeks after their memorable win against England at the Oval. Pathum Nissanka, the star of the Oval Test victory, was dismissed after a fiery start in which he made just 27 off 25 balls.

Sri Lanka vs New Zealand, Galle Test Day 1 Highlights

Dinesh Chandimal batted at No. 3 and Angelo Mathews walked in at No. 4 to provide solidity to the batting order. However, Mathews was hit on the gloves by a sharp rising delivery by O'Rourke who returned for a second spell before lunch.

Mathews retired hurt, but he was declared fit and walked out to bat at the fall of the fourth wicket after the Lunch break. Chandimal was relieved of wicketkeeping duties and was asked to bat at No. 3, but the senior batter was not able to convert his start into a big knock.

It was Kamindu Mendis and Mathews who rescued the Sri Lankan innings after they slipped to 106 for 4. Dhananjaya de Silva, one of the consistent run-scorers for Sri Lanka in the England tour, was dismissed by Glenn Phillips, who bowled a peach of a delivery, getting the ball to turn through the gap between the bat and pad and rattle into the stumps.

KAMINDU MENDIS SETS NEW SRI LANKAN RECORD

As the ball started to turn more in the second and third sessions, Kamindu Mendis put on a masterful show of batting against spin. The young batter used his foot to unsettle the spinners and used the depth of the crease well.

Mathews and Kamindu added 72 runs for the fifth wicket, but the senior batter was undone by O'Rourke, who picked his third wicket of the day.

Kamindu then found an able partner in wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis, who hit a brisk fifty that came in just 68 balls. Kamindu and Kusal kept the scorers busy during their 103-run partnership.

Kamindu hit 11 boundaries while Kusal hit seven as they kept the New Zealand attack at bay for most of the second and third sessions on Wednesday.

Kamindu brought up his hundred in the final session, making sure Sri Lanka had a decent first-innings total on the board. It was the first Test hundred for the left-handed batter at home and his fourth in just seven Tests.

Kamindu set a new Sri Lankan record for the fastest to get to four Test hundreds.

1. Kamindu Mendis - 4 hundreds in 7 matches

2. Michael Vandort - 4 hundreds i 21 matches

3. Dhananjaya de Silva - 4 hundreds in 23 matches

New Zealand, however, fought back late in the session with Ajaz Patel picking up the big wicket of Kamindu and Phillips striking again to remove Kusal Mendis.

Ramesh Mendis (14) and Prabath Jayasuriya were unbeaten as Sri Lanka headed to Stumps as the happier of the two sides.

New Zealand, who were frustrated by an abandoned Test against Afghanistan in Greater Noida last week, showed signs of rust, playing their first Test match after March. Their four-man spin attack -- Phillips, Patel, Mitchell Santner and Rachin Ravindra -- will look to make better use of the conditions on Thursday and the coming days as they look to challenge the hosts in an unfamiliar territory.