Sri Lanka batter closes in on Don Bradman and major Test records - Kamindu Mendis has the second-highest Test average after Don Bradman for batters with a minimum of 10 innings

Prolific middle-order batter Kamindu Mendis struck a fine hundred to rescue Sri Lanka from a precarious position as the hosts reached 302-7 at stumps on Day 1 of the first test against New Zealand.

The fifth fastest test century by a Sri Lankan was made by middle-order batter Kithuruwan Vithanage on the tour of Bangladesh in 2013-14.

With four hundreds in first 11 innings and an average reaching Bradmanesque levels, left-hander ignites hopes of being next in line after Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene.

With the half-century against New Zealand, Mendis has now scored 50 runs or more in each of the first seven Tests he has played. Pakistan’s Saud Shakeel was the first player to do so.

Former skipper Kumar Sangakkara is Sri Lanka’s leading test run-scorer and leading century-maker. In 134 tests, the left-hander amassed 12400 at an outstanding average of 57, with the help of 38 centuries and 52 fifties. Sangakkara is his country’s leading ODI run-scorer as well.

Kamindu Mendis maintained his red-hot form and struck a majestic 114 to power hosts Sri Lanka to 305 in the first innings of the first test against New Zealand in Galle