Kamindu Mendis equals Bradman as Sri Lanka command Galle test

GALLE, Sri Lanka (AP) — Kamindu Mendis matched Don Bradman as the joint third fastest player to 1,000 test runs as Sri Lanka tightened its grip on New Zealand in the second test on Friday.

Sri Lanka declared at 602-5 in its first innings and left New Zealand reeling at 22-2 by stumps. With three full days left to play, the Kiwis face a mountainous challenge to avoid a second defeat.

Kamindu reached the 1,000-run milestone in just his 13th test innings, sharing the honor with Bradman, who achieved the feat in 1930 against England at Headingley. Only England’s Herbert Sutcliffe and West Indies great Everton Weekes reached the landmark in fewer innings, doing so in 12 knocks.

In a career that has blossomed rapidly, Kamindu notched his fifth century before lunch. and second century in two tests. Later, with audacious flair, he brought up his 1,000th run by stepping down the track to Rachin Ravindra and smashing a towering six straight back over the bowler’s head.

This remarkable achievement made him not only the fastest Sri Lankan but also the quickest Asian to the milestone, surpassing the likes of Sri Lanka great Roy Dias (23 innings) and India’s Vinod Kambli (14).

The crowd’s celebrations were bittersweet, however, as Sri Lanka declared before Kamindu could reach his maiden double century. He was unbeaten on 182 off 250 balls, an innings laced with 16 boundaries and four massive sixes.

Kamindu found strong support from Kusal Mendis, who shrugged off recent struggles to post an undefeated 106, his 10th test century.

Demoted to No. 7 in the order after disappointing performances, Kusal responded with a measured innings, combining with Kamindu for an unbroken 200-run partnership, the highest sixth-wicket stand for Sri Lanka against New Zealand on home soil. This partnership also set a record as the highest sixth-wicket stand in Galle, by any team, further cementing Sri Lanka’s dominance.

Earlier in the day, the hosts lost Angelo Mathews (88) and skipper Dhananjaya de Silva (44) in the morning session, but Kamindu's relentless march, paired with Kusal's defiance, ensured Sri Lanka remained firmly in the driver's seat, with thoughts of a 2-0 series sweep looming large.

New Zealand, meanwhile, missed crucial chances again to rein in Sri Lanka. Daryl Mitchell dropped Kamindu on 26 and Tom Blundell fluffing a straightforward stumping when he was on 113.

The misery continued for the Kiwis when Sri Lanka struck early in their innings.

Asitha Fernando set the tone, dismissing Tom Latham in the very first over with a sharp catch at gully. Prabath Jayasuriya then removed the other opener Devon Conway, snapped up at slip by De Silva.

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

Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis plays a shot during the day two of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

New Zealand's Devon Conway leaves the field after losing his wicket during the day two of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Asitha Fernando celebrates the wicket of New Zealand's Tom Latham during the day two of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis celebrates his century during the day two of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Kusal Mendis celebrates his fifty runs as Kamindu Mendis watches during the day two of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis celebrates his century during the day two of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis plays a shot during the day two of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis plays a shot during the day two of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

New Zealand's Glenn Phillips, right, celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's Angelo Mathews with captain Tim Southee during the day two of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

New Zealand's Glenn Phillips dives to stop the ball during the day two of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's Kamindu Mendis plays a shot during the day two of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

New Zealand's Glenn Phillips celebrates the wicket of Sri Lanka's captain Dhananjaya de Silva with teammates during the day two of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

Sri Lanka's captain Dhananjaya de Silva plays a shot during the day two of the first test cricket match between Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Galle, Sri Lanka, Friday, Sept. 27, 2024. (AP Photo/Eranga Jayawardena)

BADALONA, Spain (AP) — Police in northeastern Spain carried out eviction orders Wednesday to clear an abandoned school building where around 400 migrants were living in a squat north of Barcelona.

Knowing that the eviction in the middle of winter was coming, most of the occupants had left to try to find other shelter before police in riot gear from Catalonia's regional police entered the school’s premises early in the morning under court orders. Judicial authorities had ruled the building was unsafe.

While the eviction was completed without violence, there were moments of tension when people who were losing their homes had to walk past armored officers.

But officers of Spain's National Police detained 18 people on suspicions they were residing in the country without authorization, lawyer Marta Llonch told The Associated Press.

The squat was located in Badalona, a working class city that borders Barcelona. Many sub-Saharan migrants, mostly from Senegal and Gambia, had moved into the empty school building since it was left abandoned in 2023.

“Putting 400 people onto the street in winter just before Christmas, you have to have a hard heart to do that,” said Younous Drame, a 50-year-old man from Senegal who was among those forced to leave.

The judicial order obliged the Badalona town hall to provide the evicted people with access to social services, but it did not oblige local authorities to find housing for all the squatters.

Llonch, who represents the squatters, said that many people would surely end up without shelter in the cold.

“Many people are going to sleep on the street tonight,” Llonch told The Associated Press. “Just because you evict these people it doesn’t mean they disappear. If you don’t give them an alternative place to live they will now be on the street, which will be a problem for them and the city.”

Many of the squatters lived from selling scrap metal collected from the streets. Others had residency and work permits but were forced to live there because they couldn't afford housing during a cost-of-living crunch that is making it difficult even for working Spaniards to buy or rent homes. That housing crisis has led to widespread social angst and public protests.

On leaving the school, people loaded their belongings onto carts, some used as trailers led by bicycles, to haul them away.

The Badalona town hall will offer temporary housing to some 30 people, according to El País newspaper. Another 60 people are being attended to by Catalonia’s regional social services, which could end up offering them temporary housing as well, regional officials told the AP.

The conservative mayor of Badalona, Xavier García Albiol, asked the court to evict the people from the old public school.

His Badalona town hall had argued that the squat was a public safety hazard. In 2020, an old factory occupied by around a hundred migrants in Badalona caught fire and four people were killed in the blaze.

After the eviction was complete, García Albiol visited the school site and declared that “what is unacceptable in this country is that Spain’s government lets absolutely everyone in.”

Like other southern European countries, Spain has for more than a decade seen a steady influx of migrants who risked their lives crossing the Mediterranean or Atlantic in small boats.

While many developed countries have taken a hard-line position against migration, Spain's left-wing government has said that legal migration has helped its economy grow.

A migrant carries his belongings as police began carrying out eviction orders at an abandoned school building where hundreds of mostly undocumented migrants had been living, in Badalona, near Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Migrants from Romania and Senegal sit in a makeshift bar inside an abandoned school in Badalona, near Barcelona, Spain, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, where hundreds of migrants have been occupying the building. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

A migrant argues with a riot police officer as police begin carrying out eviction orders at an abandoned school building where hundreds of mostly undocumented migrants had been living, in Badalona, near Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

A migrant's belongings are packed before he leaves as police in the background prepares to carry out eviction orders at an abandoned school building where hundreds of mostly undocumented migrants had been living, in Badalona, near Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Migrants confront police as they begin carrying out eviction orders at an abandoned school building where hundreds of mostly undocumented migrants had been living, in Badalona, near Barcelona, Spain, Wednesday, Dec. 17, 2025. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Yankuba Touray, from Gambia, makes coffee in a makeshift kitchen inside an abandoned school in Badalona, near Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, where hundreds of migrants have been occupying the building. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Yankuba Touray, from Gambia, eats his breakfast inside an abandoned school in Badalona, near Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, where hundreds of migrants have been occupying the building.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Migrants from Romania and Senegal sit in a makeshift bar inside an abandoned school in Badalona, near Barcelona, Spain, Monday, Dec. 15, 2025, where hundreds of migrants have been occupying the building. (AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)

Yankuba Touray, from Gambia, stands inside an abandoned school in Badalona, near Barcelona, Spain, Tuesday, Dec. 16, 2025, where hundreds of migrants have been occupying the building.(AP Photo/Emilio Morenatti)