Prolific Kamindu Mendis gives Sri Lanka the edge in 1st test against New Zealand

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Raised up the order to score even more runs, prolific middle-order batter Kamindu Mendis struck a fine hundred on Wednesday 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.

Kiwi quick William O’Rourke claimed three wickets in Galle but Mendis (114) was untroubled, posting his fourth century in test match cricket in only his seventh test.

The left-handed batsman has scored more than 800 runs in just 11 innings and he is on course to become the fastest Sri Lankan to 1,000 test runs, with Roy Dias (23 innings) currently holding that record. Apart from four hundreds, Mendis also has scored four half-centuries.

Mendis had been batting at No. 7 until this test match, when he was promoted to No. 5. Often he had batted with the tail while occupying the lower position and had run out of partners.

New Zealand had the advantage after reducing Sri Lanka to 178-5 and with the last recognized pair out in the middle. Mendis, with Kusal Mendis (50), was involved in a 103-run partnership for the sixth wicket to help Sri Lanka fight back.

Kamindu Mendis reached his century by putting away a full toss from part-time spinner Rachin Ravindra to the boundary.

Kusal Mendis, made to keep wicket and pushed to No. 7 in this game, was fighting for his place but should be fine for the rest of the series.

The partnership was broken when Kusal Mendis was dismissed in unusual fashion. The batter pulled Glenn Phillips' delivery and the ball stuck short leg fielder Tom Latham and popped up to Tim Southee at short mid-wicket for an easy catch.

New Zealand took the second new ball soon after it was available and it was spinner Ajaz Patel who made the breakthrough by dismissing Kamindu Mendis with just five minutes to go for stumps.

Sri Lanka lost both its openers Pathum Nissanka (27) and Dimuth Karunaratne (2) early in the day after electing to bat first as O’Rourke removed both batters.

O’Rourke also struck Angelo Mathews on his right index finger forcing the batter to retire. He did come out to bat after lunch and made 36.

Phillips was the pick of the spinners, bowling captain Dhananjaya de Silva through the gate.

New Zealand had a warm-up test match last week against Afghanistan in India washed out after five days without a ball being bowled. Sri Lanka is coming off a three-match test series in England which the hosts won 2-1.

The teams will play a second test beginning Sept. 26, also at Galle.

AP cricket: https://apnews.com/hub/cricket

Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis celebrates his century on the first day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)

Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis leaves the field after losing his wicket to New Zealand's Ajaz Patel on the first day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)

New Zealand's Ajaz Patel, left, celebrates with teammates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis on the first day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)

New Zealand's Rachin Ravindra, left, runs up to Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis to shake his hand as the latter leaves the field after losing his wicket on the first day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)

Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal plays a shot on the first day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)

Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews plays a shot on the first day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)

Sri Lanka's Dinesh Chandimal plays a shot on the first day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)

New Zealand's players stand for the national anthems before the start of the first day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)

Sri Lanka's captain Dhananjaya de Silva, left, and New Zealand's captain Tim Southee pose for a photograph with the trophy before the start of the first day of the cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)

New Zealand's players congratulate New Zealand's William O'Rourke, second right, for taking the wicket of Sri Lanka's Dimuth Karunaratne on the first day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)

Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka is bowled out by New Zealand's William O'Rourke on the first day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)

New Zealand's William O'Rourke, right, celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka on the first day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)

New Zealand's William O'Rourke bowls a delivery on the first day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)

New Zealand's William O'Rourke, second right, celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Pathum Nissanka on the first day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)

New Zealand's Ajaz Patel reacts after bowling a delivery on the first day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)

New Zealand's captain Tim Southee reacts after bowling a delivery on the first day of the first cricket test match between New Zealand and Sri Lanka in Galle, Sri Lanka, Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Viraj Kothalawala)

ATLANTA (AP) — Alexey Miranchuk scored on a booming shot in the 84th minute to give Atlanta United a 2-2 tie with MLS-leading Inter Miami, which brought on Lionel Messi as a substitute Wednesday night looking to move a step closer to the Supporters’ Shield.

After making a triumphant return to the Miami lineup with two goals and an assist last weekend, Messi started this game on the bench. Coach Gerardo Martino wanted to manage the minutes of his 37-year-old star, who is coming back from an injury with the club in the midst of a busy stretch.

Messi trotted on in the 61st, shortly after Leo Campana had scored off a deflected free kick to put the Herons in front. But the Argentine star and eight-time Ballon d’Or winner couldn't find the net in his limited time on the field.

Miami improved to 19-4-6 with five matches remaining in the regular season. The Herons pushed 12 points ahead of LA Galaxy, who played later Wednesday against Portland, in their bid to gain home-field advantage throughout the MLS playoffs.

Messi showed flashes including a backfooted pass to Federico Redondo, who misfired trying to get it back to the Miami star on the give-and-go. In stoppage time, Messi dribbled around three players in the penalty area but failed to get off a shot. Finally, he threw up his arms in frustration when another pass was intercepted by Atlanta.

With the home team trailing 2-1, Miranchuk unleashed a left-footed shot from 20 meters out that found the top left corner of the goal.

Both teams created a plethora of scoring chances in the closing minutes, but neither could break through.

Miami grabbed the lead on David Ruiz’s goal in the 29th off another deflection. Franco Negri’s pass hit someone just outside the area, somehow got through three other players and wound up going right to Ruiz, who was all alone between two Atlanta defenders and slid the shot past Brad Guzan.

United tied it in the 56th when Saba Lobjanidze’s header slipped between the legs of Miami keeper Drake Callender.

The announced crowd of 67,795 at Mercedes-Benz Stadium roared when Messi and three of his teammates trotted to the end line to begin warming up about three minutes into the second half.

Campana put the Herons ahead with a free kick that was intended for the right corner of the Atlanta goal. But the ball deflected off Dax McCarty and ricocheted into the net on the left side. Guzan, diving the other way, never had a chance.

Two minutes later, Messi came on for Julian Gressel.

UP NEXT

Inter Miami: Faces New York City FC at Yankee Stadium on Saturday.

Atlanta United: Travels to New York Red Bulls on Saturday.

AP MLS: https://apnews.com/hub/major-league-soccer

Inter Miami defender Serhiy Kryvtsov (27) and Atlanta United forward Daniel Ríos (19) battle for the ball during thre first half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Atlanta United defender Derrick Williams (3) and Inter Miami forward Leonardo Campana (8) chase the ball during thre first half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Atlanta United defender Stian Gregersen (5) and Inter Miami forward Leonardo Campana (8) battle for the ball during thre first half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi leaves the pitch after during a MLS soccer match against Atlanta United Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi controls the ball during the second half of a MLS soccer match against Atlanta United Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)

Inter Miami forward Lionel Messi (10), right, and Atlanta United defender Derrick Williams (3) battle for control of the ball during the second half of a MLS soccer match Wednesday, Sept. 18, 2024. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)