Not a Century, Still a Statement - Kusal Mendis’ 93* Lights Up Colombo

JN Sport | JN Sport Correspondent

From Under the Radar to Centre Stage

Kusal Mendis - not the loudest bloke in the Sri Lankan dressing room, not the flashiest bat in the rack, but mate, when it comes to timing his breakthrough moments, this geezer’s got a knack. For years he’s been that guy you’ve had on your fantasy bench ; teased with moments of brilliance, frustrated by inconsistency, but always carrying that “what if?” vibe.

He’s never been one for the headlines early doors ; more the silent grinder than the boundary-hitting headline magnet , but with a blend of grit, timing, and cricketing nous, Mendis has been chipping away quietly, stacking up runs and respect. The deeper you look into his stats, the more you see a player simmering just below boiling point, waiting for a night like this.

The Build-Up - A Career of Patience

It’s funny how the cricket world works. Some kids blast onto the scene with fireworks and hype; others, like Mendis, are slow burners ; a bit like a flat white that gets richer by the sip. The 31-year-old right-hand batter and wicketkeeper has seen his fair share of ups and downs: flashes of class from the middle order, flashes of uncertainty behind the stumps, and plenty of “almost there” knocks that kept fans guessing.

He’s been carving out his spot through sheer tenacity rather than theatrics ; the sort of player who’ll quietly tuck away singles, pick the gaps, and punish anything loose, even if the big shots don’t always come. It’s that sort of maturity and calm head that coaches love, even if it doesn’t always set social media alight.

Quiet Seasons, Loud Potential

Some pundits used to flip between praise and criticism - heck, there were times when fans even debated if he should be in the side at all. But that’s the beauty of a career like this: it doesn’t shout, it sneaks up on you. And after a few decent knocks here and there, you start to realise this bloke might just be one of Sri Lanka’s most dependable bats when the going gets tough.

He doesn’t need the drums. He doesn’t need the spotlight. All he wants is to bat , and bat he did.

Colombo Night Lights — The 93* That Stung England

Alright, let’s talk about the main event. Sri Lanka vs England, 1st ODI, 22 January 2026, Colombo - and what a corker of a clash it was. England, chasing a target of 272, had the credentials to chase it down with half-centuries from Ben Duckett and Joe Root keeping things on track early doors. But wickets tumbled, the spinners tightened up, and the equation began to slip for the tourists.

And right in the thick of it? Kusal Mendis with a dogged 93 not out off 117 balls - a knock that was less about flamboyant slogging and more about iron-clad steadiness. He’s the glue that held Sri Lanka’s innings together after the top order wobbled against some probing leg spin.

When half the crowd was biting nails and the other half was plotting England’s middle-order collapse, Mendis was calmly rotating the strike, milking singles, flicking spinners to the rope and punishing anything too full. His 88-run partnership with Janith Liyanage was the backbone of that total ; no bluster, just pure cricket savvy.

Despite cramps and the temptation to go big, he handled himself like a seasoned campaigner. And while he just fell short of his century, that knock - let’s be honest , felt bigger than a hundred in that pressure scenario.

The Win That Cemented It

The end result? Sri Lanka 271/6 and a gritty 19-run victory over England. England’s chase faltered in the middle, and even Jamie Overton’s late fireworks weren’t enough to get them over the line.

Mendis’ innings wasn’t just about runs - it was about context. It kept Sri Lanka competitive when they could’ve drifted, it bought time for partnerships to flourish, and it built a score that looked defensible on that tricky Colombo deck.

Final Chapter - Quiet but Not Invisible

So here we are , Kusal Mendis, the unassuming hero of the first ODI. The man who delivered when it mattered most. Some players flash and fade. Others simmer, build and explode right when their country needs them.

This wasn’t a spectacle of power. It wasn’t a blitz of boundaries. It was craft, coolness, and cricketing nous - served with a smile and a right-hand drive. And if that isn’t the hallmark of a player who’s truly arrived, then I don’t know what is.

Here’s hoping we see many more nights like this from Mendis - the quiet conqueror who speaks loudest with his bat!