On Wednesday, Sri Lanka ended the opening day of the first Test against New Zealand with an advantage having scored 302 runs in Galle.

New Zealand started the day with a couple of early wickets but Angelo Mathews, Dinesh Chandimal earlier on and then two Mendis, Kamindu and Kusal, stitched a 103-run stand that helped Sri Lanka dominate the proceedings.

However, the wicket in the penultimate over, that too of Mendis, who scored a brilliant 114, and might be confident of bowling them out for not more than 20 runs on the second morning.

Sri Lanka ended the opening day being in a position of strength. New Zealand got the big wicket of Kamindu Mendis just before the stumps but Sri Lanka with three wickets still in hand and 302 runs on board are in the driver’s seat.

New Zealand got the wicket they were after. A short of a length delivery from Ajaz Patel, that rips off the rough area and the ball kisses Mendis’ gloves, balloons up and simple catch for the slip fielder. It was a bit late for New Zealand but not that late.

Glenn Phillips got his second wicket as Kusal Mendis departed immediately after scoring a fifty. Mendis smashed a shorter delivery from Phillips straight into short-leg fielder Tom Latham s pads which ballooned up and Tim Southee at short mid-wicket dived to his right to complete a terrific catch.

Kusal Mendis and Kamindu Mendis brought up a 100-run partnership as Sri Lanka were slowly moving towards the position of strength.