Sri Lanka’s in-form all-rounder, Kamindu Mendis, derived great pleasure from going past the 1,000-run mark in Test format and is now looking forward to their upcoming white-ball tours. Sri Lanka effortlessly completed a whitewash over the Kiwis following their massive success in Galle in the second Test by an innings and 154 runs. While spinners decimated the visitors’ batting line-up, Mendis orchestrated New Zealand’s downfall with the bat. He spread his magic in the first Test, lifting his bat to celebrate his century (114) in the first inning. In the second Test, the left-handed batter kept the New Zealand spinners at bay, riding high on his rollicking form.

The 25-year-old returned to the dugout, unbeaten with a score of 182 off 250 deliveries. Buttressed by 16 fours and four towering sixes, Kamindu’s effort propelled Sri Lanka’s score to 602/5.

As he continues to thrive with the bat, Kamindu opened up about the mindset that has helped him produce a run fest.

“I’m enjoying scoring runs, especially since Galle is my hometown. I think I did well, and credit goes to Kusal and Chandimal as well. I think I had the same mindset and some small changes to the way I batted in England; I made some tweaks while playing spin,” Kamindu said in the post-match presentation.

“It is a great pleasure to score 1000 runs so quickly, but we have to improve day by day. There are upcoming tours, ODIs, and T20s as well. I want to keep doing well,” he concluded.

During his sensational run with the bat, Mendis became the first player to score fifty or more in eight consecutive Test matches since making his debut.

Mendis hit the four-digit mark in Test format in just his 13th inning. Following his achievement, he shares the incredible feat with the legendary Don Bradman. He is the third-fastest ever and the quickest since 1949 to the elusive record.

Overall, Mendis has scored 1,004 Test runs in eight matches at a whopping average of 91.27. After securing a 2-0 series win, Sri Lanka will engage in a T20I series against the West Indies, beginning on October 13.

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. Meanwhile, he surpassed former India batter Vinod Kambli, who had achieved the feat in 14 innings, to become the fastest Asian batter to reach the milestone. Kambli, the previous record holder in the subcontinent had achieved it back in 1994.

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.