Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis of Sri Lanka made history in the first Test against Bangladesh in Sylhet by forming their second 150-plus partnership in the same match, a feat achieved only twice before in Test cricket.
As day three dawned, Bangladesh seized an early advantage by dismissing night watchman Vishwa Fernando for a mere four runs. However, the script of the match took a familiar turn as Sri Lanka’s skipper, Dhananjaya de Silva, and the dynamic Kamindu Mendis came together once again to stabilize the innings.
Their aggressive stroke play not only weathered the storm but also propelled Sri Lanka into a commanding position, with the lead soaring past the 300-run mark by the 54th over.
The duo’s partnership reached sublime heights when they surpassed the 150-run mark in the 77th over. This achievement was not just significant for the match but also for the broader history of Test cricket, as they became only the third pair ever to notch up two 150-plus stands in the same Test match.
Their partnership of 173 runs was a testament to their resilience and partnership, laying a strong foundation for Sri Lanka’s dominance in the game.
However, every tale of triumph has its twists, and this partnership was no exception. The moment of glory was interrupted when Dhananjaya de Silva, after a stellar knock of 108 runs, fell victim to Mehidy Hasan Miraz’s delivery, caught by Zakir Hasan.
Nonetheless, Dhananjaya’s performance was nothing short of spectacular, as it marked the first instance since 2014 that a Sri Lankan player scored a century in each innings of a Test match.
This achievement placed him in esteemed company alongside the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, who achieved a similar feat against Bangladesh in Chattogram.
Furthermore, Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis etched their names in cricketing folklore by becoming only the third pair in Test cricket history to score centuries in both innings of a Test match.
This elite club includes legendary duos such as Ian and Greg Chappell for Australia in 1974 and Misbah-ul-Haq and Azhar Ali for Pakistan in 2014.
Their remarkable feat not only underscores their individual brilliance but also highlights the depth of talent within Sri Lanka’s cricketing ranks.
Dhananjaya de Silva and Kamindu Mendis’ partnership in the first Test against Bangladesh transcended mere statistics; it was a masterclass in resilience, skill, and historic significance.
