ZCZC
BSP-15
CRICKET-NZL-SRI-MENDIS
Bittersweet day for Sri Lanka’s prolific Mendis
CHRISTCHURCH, New Zealand, Dec 29, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – Sri Lanka’s young
batting maestro Kusal Mendis cemented a stellar year Saturday by passing
1,000 runs in 2018 but the occasion was tempered by his untimely dismissal in
the second Test against New Zealand.
The 23-year-old was torn between celebrating being the second player
behind India’s run machine Virat Kohli to achieve the 1,000 milestone and
ruing Sri Lanka’s precarious position with a day remaining in the series
deciding Test.
Sri Lanka resumed the day at 24 for two with Mendis and skipper Dinesh
Chandimal steeled to bat through all three sessions to give the tourists a
chance to draw the match and series.
Instead, after facing 147 deliveries he was out to a loose shot midway
through the middle session and at stumps on day four Sri Lanka were 231 for
six with their 660-run target out of sight.
Of reaching 1,000 runs, Mendis said he was “really glad I was able to do
it at 23, and I had challenged myself to get there in this last game.”
When he was out for 67, caught at extra cover off Neil Wagner, Mendis had
1,023 runs from 23 innings at 46.50. Kohli has amassed 1,322 from 24 innings
at 55.08.
“I’m really happy. I did have that target in mind,” he said.
“In the first few matches of the year I didn’t have that in my head, but
later on, after I’d played a few games this year, and scored a few runs, then
I became pretty intent on getting to 1,000 runs.”
However, his dismissal when Sri Lanka needed a long partnership took the
gloss off the day.
“That’s a bit disappointing,” he said.
“The plan was to bat as many balls as possible, as had been the case in
Wellington. I tried to make the ball older and softer. If runs came, then
that’s a bonus. So we took it hour by hour and tried to break the work up
that way.
“I was able to bat a session and a half, but if I’d been able to support
Chandi a little bit better, we might have been able to finish today without a
wicket as well.”
Wagner lured Mendis into the dismissal shot with a series of short balls
that forced him on to the back foot and then pitching one up the brought the
lofted drive.
“I don’t think that was a great ball to drive. After looking at the
replays, that’s probably what I take from it. I was trying to hit through
extra cover. The fielder was close, and I hit it too far in the air.
“It’s one that I really could have left alone, but I made the wrong
decision. Hopefully I can learn from it.”
BSS/AFP/SSS/1515 hrs