Rawalpindi Test Sees Kusal Mendis Hit Landmark Century On Captaincy Debut Against Pakistan Sri Lanka's newly appointed Test captain Kusal Mendis struck 119 in Rawalpindi to join an elite group of debutant century makers while crossing 13000 international runs. Sri Lanka's newly appointed Test captain Kusal Mendis marked his leadership debut in spectacular fashion during the opening Test match against Pakistan in Rawalpindi. Leading from the front, the right handed batter anchored the innings with a composed 119 off 202 deliveries, striking 10 boundaries and four sixes along the way. Mendis forged a pivotal 249 run partnership for the fifth wicket alongside Dhananjaya de Silva, who compiled an impressive 167. Their massive stand rescued Sri Lanka from early trouble and helped the side counter Pakistan's formidable first innings effort. Sri Lanka Secures Narrow First-Innings Lead Of 12 Runs The contest in Rawalpindi remained tightly poised through the first two days. In response to Pakistan's first innings total of 434 for 9, Sri Lanka folded for 446, managing a slim lead of 12 runs. Beyond the massive contributions from Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva, middle order batter Kamindu Mendis also chipped in with a valuable half century, scoring 58 before being dismissed. The rest of the Sri Lankan lineup struggled to build significant scores against the bowling attack. By the close of play on the second day, Pakistan reached 57 for the loss of one wicket in their second turn at the crease. Entering Elite Company With A Century On Test Captaincy Debut With this performance, Mendis scripted history for his country by becoming the first Sri Lankan cricketer to score a century on Test captaincy debut. The achievement places him in rare international company alongside several modern batting greats who delivered hundreds in their maiden matches as skipper. Virat Kohli famously achieved the feat in 2014 by scoring twin centuries of 115 and 141 against Australia. Current India captain Shubman Gill also recorded a captaincy debut hundred last year, making 147 against England. In 2017, England's Joe Root struck 190 against South Africa in his first Test at the helm, while Australia's Steve Smith similarly began his captaincy tenure with a ton against India in 2014. Surpassing The 13000 Run Landmark In International Cricket In addition to his captaincy milestone, Mendis crossed the threshold of 13000 runs in international cricket during his knock against Pakistan. He is now the eighth Sri Lankan cricketer to reach this milestone across all international formats. The all-time run scoring chart for Sri Lanka remains led by Kumar Sangakkara, who accumulated 27757 runs throughout his illustrious career. Mahela Jayawardene sits second on the list with 25688 runs, followed by Sanath Jayasuriya in third place with 20966 runs. Mendis now joins this distinguished roster of legendary Sri Lankan run-getters. What this means for you Kusal Mendis's historic captaincy debut century provides a major boost of stability and confidence to Sri Lanka's Test setup. • For Cricket Fans: An emphatic batting display on leadership debut lifts morale across the Sri Lankan cricketing fraternity. Supporters can look forward to a more assertive approach under his leadership in upcoming fixtures. • On Series Dynamics: Grabbing a slender 12 run lead alongside resilient batting puts Sri Lanka on competitive footing away from home. The responsibility now rests with their bowling attack to dictate terms in the fourth innings. • For Individual Milestones: Surpassing 13000 international runs firmly cements Mendis's standing as a frontline pillar in world cricket. Joining the ranks of esteemed run scorers provides immense backing for future overseas assignments. • For Team Balance: The 249 run partnership between Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva reinforces middle order stability. It gives the team management a proven formula when navigating difficult phases in foreign conditions. Why this happened A precarious situation following the collapse of Sri Lanka's top order prompted captain Kusal Mendis and Dhananjaya de Silva to anchor the innings, paving the way for this historic milestone. • Early Batting Collapse: Facing Pakistan's imposing first innings total of 434, Sri Lanka lost early wickets and found themselves under immense scoreboard pressure. The precarious position necessitated a resilient innings from the newly appointed captain. • Crucial Partnership: Mendis joined forces with Dhananjaya de Silva to construct a massive 249 run stand for the fifth wicket. Both batters absorbed pressure effectively before capitalizing on scoring opportunities. • Assuming Leadership Responsibility: Taking over the Test captaincy motivated Mendis to lead from the front. His balanced knock of 119 featured 10 boundaries and four sixes to tilt momentum back toward his team. Questions & Answers 1. How many runs did Kusal Mendis score in the first innings of the Rawalpindi Test? Kusal Mendis scored 119 runs off 202 deliveries, including 10 fours and 4 sixes. 2. What record did Kusal Mendis establish on his Test captaincy debut? He became the first player in Sri Lankan cricket history to score a century on Test captaincy debut. 3. Who did Kusal Mendis share the big fifth wicket partnership with? Mendis shared a massive 249 run partnership for the fifth wicket with Dhananjaya de Silva. 4. What career milestone did Mendis cross during this match? He completed 13000 runs in international cricket, becoming the eighth Sri Lankan batter to achieve this feat. 5. Who holds the record for the most international runs for Sri Lanka? Kumar Sangakkara holds the record with 27757 international runs across his career. 6. What did Virat Kohli score on his Test captaincy debut? Virat Kohli scored 115 and 141 across both innings against Australia during his Test captaincy debut in 2014. https://trendkia.com/en/cricket/rawalpindi-test-men-chamake-nae-kaptana-kusal-mendis-debyu-maicha-men-shataka-thoka-hasila-ki-aitihasika-upalabdhi-59171 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.