Kamindu Mendis makes history as fastest batter to score 1000 Test runs in 75 years

Continuing his red-hot form with the bat, Kamindu Mendis, on Friday (September 27), scored yet another century in the ongoing second Test between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle.

It was his second century in a row in the series and fifth in 13 Test innings. The left-handed batsman completed his century in the second session, reaching the milestone in 147 deliveries. New Zealand's bowlers just could not stop Kamindu Mendis as he kept scoring runs even after completing his century.

His knock finally came to an end when Sri Lanka decided to declare their innings on a mammoth total of 602 for 5. While Kamindu Mendis was only 18 runs short of his maiden double hundred in Tests, the hosts were convinced that they had enough runs on the board to declare their innings. He scored 182 runs off 250 balls with the help of 16 fours and 4 sixes.

Kamindu was not the only Sri Lankan batter to reach triple digits in the innings. Earlier on day one, former captain Dinesh Chandimal played a fine knock of 116 runs. On day two, Kusal Mendis also scored a century, playing an unbeaten knock of 106 runs and sharing a 200-run stand with Kamindu.

A historic knock for Kamindu Mendis:

The brilliant 182-run knock has made Kamindu Mendis the fastest Asian batsman to score 1000 runs in Tests. The record was previously held by India's Vinod Kambli. While Kambli reached 1000 Test runs in his 14th innings, Kamindu did it in his 13th.

He reached the milestone after crossing the 178-run mark. Kamindu also equaled the legendary Don Bradman as the second fastest batter to 1000 Test runs. The overall record is jointly held by Everton Weekes and Herbert Sutcliffe who reached the mark in 12 innings.

Kamindu became the fastest to 1000 runs in the longest format of the game in 75 years. Sutcliffe reached his 1000th Test run in 1925 while Weekes did it in 1949. In terms of Tests played, Kamindu is the second fastest to 1000 Test runs, behind Bradman. While Bradman reached the landmark in seven Tests, Kamindu did it in 8 Tests.

Here is a list showing the players fastest to 1000 Test runs: