N.U. ABDUL RAZZAK UDAYAR
KANDY
Sri Lankan Cricket Sensation, a strong member of the national Test squad Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis, popularly known as Kamindu Mendis shot to limelight by claiming the coveted ICC monthly award for the month of March 2024. There were two more International Cricketers along with him, that were shortlisted for this prestigious award given by the International Cricket Council for the excellent performance portrayed in the international cricket arena.
Ireland pacer Mark Adair and New Zealand speedster Matt Henry who also had an excellent performance competed with him for this prestigious award. Eventually, it is Lankan Lion, Kamindu who is elected as the best performer. For Sri Lanka it is the third award as Prabath Jayasuriya and Wanindu Hasaranga claimed it in July 2022 and June 2023 respectively. In fact, twenty-five-year-old former Cricket Captain of Richmond College Galle and the Under 19 Skipper Kamindu had an outstanding performance in the recently concluded Test matches between the hosts, Bangladesh and touring Sri Lanka.
Kamindu, Lankan Batting Machine
The ambidextrous all-rounder Kamindu had a stellar performance as a batsman and a bowler that helped in no small way to make his own contributions to ensure victory for Sri- Lanka in both Test matches that were played at the Sylhet International Cricket Stadium, Sylhet and Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, Chattogram respectively. The first match was a cakewalk for Sri Lanka as it won it by 328 runs. The enormous contributions of the Skipper Dhananjaya de Silva and the young Lankan batting machine Kamindu Mendis along with the bowlers and the rest certainly paved the way for this memorable win. Bravely, both batsmen scored centuries each in both innings of this encounter. Lankan rising star, Lefty, Kamindu continued to showcase his batting excellence in the second Test too. He made a patient 92 not out in the first innings to build the Lankan innings to make sure that Bangali Tigers would eat the humble pie at the hands of the Lankan team. When the Tigers started to resist strongly to give Sri Lanka a big challenge, Kamindu rose to the occasion by grabbing three important wickets in the decisive final session of the encounter. Overall, he amassed 367runs and 3 wickets. Conspicuously, Kamindu did not bowl both in the first Test match and in the first innings of the second match as the main bowlers of Sri Lanka easily did the needful.
Unbelievable Test Average
Interestingly, Kamindu Mendis had a flying start in his Test cricketing career for he got who 61 runs in his debut that was Against touring Australia in Galle in July 2018. Sri Lanka won this match by an innings and 39 runs where Dinesh Chandimal and Prabath Jayasuriya produced wonders with unbeaten 209 runs and 12 wickets (6 wickets each in both innings). Thankfully, Sri Lankan selectors have found a treasure for Test cricket, particularly a fine all-rounder who has the skills, talent and the potential to take Sri Lanka with the other players to get more glory. His profile shows that he has played three Test matches with 5 innings collecting 427 runs with 2 centuries and two half centuries. His average is unbelievably high, to be precise, it is recorded as 107 percent. Congrats Kamindu for internationally keeping the Lankan Flag high!
