Mendis wasn’t aware of sixes World Record

by Rex Clementine

As records tumbled in Galle during the second Test match between Ireland and Sri Lanka, Kusal Mendis came closer to break Wasim Akram’s World Record for most sixes in a Test match innings. Mendis, who posted his maiden double hundred, smashed 11 sixes during his 245 and was dismissed attempting the 12th six that would have seen him equalling the record.

Pakistan great Wasim Akram had smashed 12 sixes in an innings in 1996 against Zimbabwe.

Mendis had by then broken the Sri Lankan record going past Kumar Sangakkara’s eight sixes in an innings against Bangladesh in 2014 but fell short of the World Record as he was well caught at long-off by Matthew Humphreys to give Graham Hume his maiden Test wicket.

“I didn’t know about the World Record. I knew about it only when I returned to the dressing room. I wasn’t aware how many sixes I had hit even,” Mendis said.

After Ireland had posted 492 all out in their first innings, Sri Lanka were trying to get ahead of the game scoring big and quickly and going at a healthy rate was crucial.

“What we were trying was to get as many runs as possible and score quick. I could have got to 250 easily. Given our game plan at that moment, I don’t think any such message would have been passed from the dressing room. I understand that,” Mendis went onto add.

Mendis walked out to bat after the openers had added 228 runs for the first wicket. A further 268 run stand followed for the second wicket between Mendis and Nishan Madushka as Sri Lanka took complete control of the game.

“It was pretty easy to bat when I went out as Dimuth and Madushka as openers had shared a big partnership and the ball had got older and fielders were tired. Feels good as this is my maiden double hundred,” Mendis who had been dismissed in 190s twice before added.

Mendis is the only batter in the top seven to feature in all three formats of the game and has found consistency in his game after the initial struggle. He has been now named as vice-captain of the ODI side as well. He keeps wickets in white ball cricket.

Sri Lanka won the second Test by an innings and ten runs and secured the series 2-0. They beat Ireland by an innings and 280 runs in the first Test inside three days.