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)

Colorado coach Deion Sanders has brought in Sacramento State's Brennan Marion as the offensive coordinator, the architect of the high-tempo, run-oriented “Go-Go” system.

The school announced the hire Friday. Marion will step in for Pat Shurmur, whose contract was up after a 3-9 season. Marion will have highly touted quarterback Julian “Ju Ju” Lewis to direct an offense that takes advantage of creative formations to produce favorable situations.

"We brought in a man that has shown he’s creative, innovative, knowledgeable, smart and understands today’s players,” Sanders said. “He has made a difference on the field and off everywhere he’s been.”

The 38-year-old Marion becomes the third offensive coordinator since Sanders arrived at Colorado before the 2023 season. Sanders started with Sean Lewis, who's now the head coach at San Diego State, and then turned the controls over to Shurmur. He ran the offense in 2024 with weapons such as Shedeur Sanders and Heisman Trophy winner Travis Hunter, but Colorado struggled to find its rhythm this season.

Marion spent one season as the head coach at Sacramento State, leading the Hornets to a 7-5 mark. They averaged nearly 34 points and 425.6 yards. Leading the way was running back Rodney Hammond Jr., who averaged over 101 yards rushing per game.

Colorado is coming off a season in which the offense finished second-to-last in the Big 12 in both points (20.9) and rushing (125.6).

“Humbled to be sought out by the best to ever do it in football — Coach Prime,” Marion said. “It’s my mission to make sure we put a great product on the field that the entire CU family can be proud of!”

Before Sacramento State, Marion spent two seasons as the offensive coordinator/quarterbacks coach at UNLV. He helped the Rebels to a pair of bowl games by relying on a dynamic offense.

Marion is the architect of the “Go-Go” offense, which emphasizes creativity and pace — he wants to run a lot of plays. He even wears a chain around his neck that reads “Go-Go.”

In 2023, UNLV scored 40 or more points in a program-record six games. The Rebels finished in the top 10 in the FBS that season in third-down conversions and red-zone offense. They averaged 34.4 points.

Marion also worked at Texas with head coach Steve Sarkisian as the passing game coordinator and wide receivers coach. While there, Marion mentored wideout Xavier Worthy, who's now with the Kansas City Chiefs. Marion also was a receivers coach at Pittsburgh where he worked with Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison, a first-round pick by the Minnesota Vikings in 2023.

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FILE - UNLV Offensive Coordinator Brennan Marion in the second half during an NCAA college football game against Syracuse, Friday, Oct. 4, 2024, in Las Vegas. Syracuse won 44-41 in overtime. (AP Photo/Rick Scuteri, File)