Mendis 169* propels SL lead towards 200

Sri Lanka 117 and 282 for 6 (Mendis 169*) lead Australia 203 by 196 runsScorecard and ball-by-ball details

Kusal Mendis had one first-class century before today. He walked to the crease at 6 for 2, after a wicket fell on the third ball of the morning. Sri Lanka were 80 short of making Australia bat again. Mendis had survived only seven deliveries in the first innings. The ingredients were all wrong, but like the world’s greatest chef he worked his magic and fashioned them into something delicious.

Sri Lankan fans could only have dreamed of such a Kandy treat when play began. Yet by tea, Sri Lanka had at the very least made this a 50-50 battle and by stumps, called early due to bad light and rain, they were unquestionably on top. Their first-innings debacle of 117 had made their job tough, but Australia’s task in the fourth innings against Rangana Herath and friends would be no easier.

Already the target stood at 197 but four wickets were still in hand. Importantly, one of those was Mendis, who walked off to a standing ovation on 169. This from a man whose previous highest score – in first-class cricket, mind you – was 108. This in a Test match in which no other batsman has reached 50. By stumps, you wouldn’t be surprised if he turned this into a double-century.

All he would need was a little lower-order support. Dilruwan Perera was on 5 when the players walked off, having not long joined Mendis following the dismissal of Dhananjaya de Silva for 36. …

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