Sri Lanka have made two changes to the team that defeated England in the third Test of the recently concluded series at the latter's home for the first match against New Zealand. A spinner makes a return for the first time after more than a year.

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.

Kamindu Mendis once again helped his team get to a good position. Sri Lanka went from 33/2 to 302/7 by the end of Day 1. Kusal Mendis also played a crucial 50-run knock.

Chandimal (61) and Karunaratne (83) notched 12 fours between them, having seen Pathum Nissanka (two) fall inside the first two overs to Will O'Rourke (3-37)

Kamindu Mendis’ 114-run inning propelled Sri Lanka to a solid score of 302/7 at the end of Day One against New Zealand in the first test match at the Galle International Stadium.

Sri Lanka opener Pathum Nissanka hits a century as Sri Lanka defeated England by eight wickets in the third Test of the series.

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.

Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis scored a courageous century against New Zealand Wednesday as the hosts wrestled back the initiative to reach 302 for seven at stumps on the first day of the first Test.

Kamindu Mendis hit his fourth Test hundred, first in Sri Lanka, as the hosts went past 300 on a hard-fought day of Test cricket in Galle. Fast bowler William O'Rourke was the pick of the BlackCaps bowling unit on a spin-friendly surface.