Kiwis stumble at 22-2 after Kamindu's heroics

GALLE:

New Zealand were flailing at 22-2 and trailing by 580 on Friday against a dominant Sri Lankan batting attack that saw middle-order maestro Kamindu Mendis reach 1,000 runs from just eight Test appearances.

Sri Lanka declared at 602-5 shortly before stumps on day two in Galle after a 200-run partnership between Kamindu and Kusal Mendis -- the third century-plus stand of the innings.

The tourists then lost their openers inside nine overs, with Tom Latham caught on the fifth ball of the innings for two and Devon Conway dismissed for nine.

Kane Williamson (six) and Ajaz Patel (nought) will resume on Saturday.

Kamindu reached the 1,000-run milestone in 13 innings played since his debut at the same ground two years ago, equalling the record of Australian great Don Bradman.

Only two others -- - England's Herbert Sutcliffe and Everton Weekes of the West Indies -- have surpassed him, both reaching the landmark in 12 innings.

Kamindu, a 25-year-old Galle native, made an unbeaten 182 before the declaration alongside Kusal on 106.

His five centuries from 13 innings also made him third-fastest to that record, tied with Bradman and the West Indies' George Headley.

The left-hander has been in excellent form this year and was also Sri Lanka's highest run-scorer in their last two series against Bangladesh and England.

Kamindu's overnight partner Angelo Mathews departed for 88 when Glen Phillips got him caught at square leg by rookie quick Will O'Rourke. Phillips then sent back Dhananjaya de Silva for 44 when the skipper swept a delivery into the gloves of wicketkeeper Tom Blundell.

It was Phillips's third wicket for the innings after he bowled Dinesh Chandimal for 116 in the last session of the opening day.

O'Rourke had impressed in the first Test with his second five-wicket haul in three matches, but toiled without result in the Sri Lanka's innings, conceding 81 runs without reward.

Sri Lanka won the opening match of the two-Test series by 63 runs and are eyeing their first Test series win against the Kiwis since 2009.

Friday was the first time Sri Lanka surpassed 500 against New Zealand from 40 matches.

New Zealand have not won any of their five previous Tests at Galle.

Records tumble for SL wonder boy Kamindu

Sri Lankan middle-order batsman Kamindu Mendis stormed into the record books in Galle on Friday when he became just the fourth cricketer to make 1,000 runs inside 13 Test innings.

The 25-year old has played just eight Test matches since his debut two years ago at the same venue against Australia but has quickly made a name for himself as a star hitter.

Six of those matches have been played since March, when he scored his first five-day ton against Bangladesh.

His unbeaten 182 against New Zealand during on Friday made him equal third-fastest to the 1,000-run mark with Australia's Donald Bradman, widely held to be the sport's greatest batsman.

Only two others have surpassed him, with England's Herbert Sutcliffe and Everton Weekes of the West Indies both reaching the landmark in 12 innings.

It was another feather in the young left-hander's cap since the second Test began on Thursday, when he made his eighth consecutive fifty from eight Test appearances.

Friday's knock made it five Test centuries from 13 innings -- a record that also tied him with Bradman as well as George Headley of the West Indies.

Only three batsman have reached the mark faster, with Weekes managing in 10 and Sutcliffe making it in 12 alongside Australia's Neil Harvey.

By the time Sri Lanka declared on 602-5, he had notched up a 200-run partnership in Galle -- where Kamindu was born and raised -- alongside fellow centurion Kusal Mendis (106 not out).

Kamindu was the only cricketer to make a century on either side in the first Test against New Zealand, which Sri Lanka won by 63 runs.

He has been in excellent form this year and was also Sri Lanka's highest run-scorer in their last two series against Bangladesh and England.