Jeevan Mendis

Balapuwaduge Manukulasuriya Amith Jeevan Mendis (Sinhala: ජීවන් මෙන්ඩිස්; born 15 January 1983) is a former Sri Lankan professional cricketer, who played limited over internationals. An all-rounder who bowls leg spin, Mendis has represented Sri Lanka in the 2012 World Twenty20 and 2015 World Cup. Domestically, he plays for Tamil Union in Sri Lanka, and he has also played for Derbyshire in England during 2017. Mendis announced his retirement from international cricket on 28 December 2021 and migrated to Australia.^[1]

Jeevan Mendis

Personal information
Full name	Balapuwaduge Manukulasuriya Amith Jeevan Mendis
Born	(1983-01-15) 15 January 1983 (age 41) Colombo, Sri Lanka
Height	5 ft 8 in (173 cm)
Batting	Left-handed
Bowling	Leg break
Role	All-rounder
International information
National side	Sri Lanka (2010–2019)
ODI debut (cap 145)	1 June 2010 v Zimbabwe
Last ODI	28 June 2019 v South Africa
T20I debut (cap 38)	25 July 2011 v England
Last T20I	16 March 2018 v Bangladesh
T20I shirt no.	88
Domestic team information
Years	Team
2001	Bloomfield
2002–2008	Sinhalese
2008–present	Tamil Union
2008–2010	Kandurata
2010	Dhaka Division
2011	Ruhuna
2012	Basnahira Cricket Dundee
2012	Sydney Sixers
2013	Delhi Daredevils
2013	Uthura
2014	Yaal Blazers
2014	Barbados Tridents
2015, 2017	Chittagong Vikings
2016	Barisal Bulls
2017	Derbyshire
2018/19	Tshwane Spartans
2019/20	Sylhet Thunder
Career statistics
Competition ODI T20I FC LA Matches 58 22 161 206 Runs scored 636 208 7,769 3,407 Batting average 18.70 18.91 35.80 23.82 100s/50s 0/1 0/0 21/35 0/16 Top score 72 43* 206* 99* Balls bowled 1,404 210 16,750 5,532 Wickets 28 12 352 153 Bowling average 43.00 20.75 27.31 28.53 5 wickets in innings 0 0 17 2 10 wickets in match 0 0 2 0 Best bowling 3/15 3/24 6/37 5/12 Catches/stumpings 13/– 7/– 125/– 69/1
Source: ESPNcricinfo, 28 June 2019
Medal record Men's Cricket Representing  Sri Lanka Asian Games 2014 Incheon Team

Youth career

Mendis was born in Colombo and went to S. Thomas' College, Mount Lavinia. A left-handed batsman, he debuted in 2000/01 and the following season captained the Under-19 team to victory in a one-day game. He represented the Sri Lankan A side in 2005. He held the best bowling figures in U19 Cricket World Cup history where he recorded 7/20 v Zimbabwe U19's until his record was surpassed by Australia's Jason Ralston (7/19) at the 2018 Under-19 Cricket World Cup, which was then surpassed in the same tournament by Ralston's compatriot Lloyd Pope (who took 8/35).^[2] He is the only Sri Lankan to pick up a 7 wicket haul in an U19 match.^[3][4]

Domestic career

Mendis made his Twenty20 debut on 17 August 2004, for Sinhalese Sports Club in the 2004 SLC Twenty20 Tournament.^[5] In Sri Lankan domestic cricket, Mendis has played for Tamil Union since the 2008–09 season. During the first half of the 2017 season, he played for Derbyshire in England as an overseas player.^[6]

In March 2018, he was named in Kandy's squad for the 2017–18 Super Four Provincial Tournament.^[7][8] The following month, he was also named in Kandy's squad for the 2018 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.^[9]

In August 2018, he was named in Colombo's squad the 2018 SLC T20 League.^[10] In December 2018, in the 2018–19 Premier League Tournament, he took the best bowling figures in 2018 in a first-class cricket match, with 9 for 53 from 29 overs.^[11] He was the leading wicket-taker for Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club in the tournament, with 30 dismissals in five matches.^[12]

In March 2019, he was named in Dambulla's squad for the 2019 Super Provincial One Day Tournament.^[13]

International career

Mendis made his international debut in the 2010 Zimbabwe Tri-Nation Series in the 3rd Match on 1 June 2010 against Zimbabwe. He did not get any opportunity to bat as his number didn't come up, but he bowled 4 overs, giving 12 runs, and took two wickets.^[14] In his second ODI of the series against India, he scored an unbeaten 35 off 35 balls where Sri Lanka won the match by 6 wickets.^[15] In the final of the series, he took two wickets against Zimbabwe, and Sri Lanka won the championship comprehensively.^[16]

In the opening match of 2012 ICC World Twenty20 against Zimbabwe at Hambantota, he came to the crease at 82/3 after 11.3 overs and scored a 43* from 30 balls, hitting 4 fours and a six and scripted a game-changing 49 ball 94 runs partnership with Kumar Sangakkara (44 off 26 balls) to help his side reach 182/4. With the ball, he took 3/24 from his 4 overs and ably assisted spin partner Ajantha Mendis, who took a record 6/8 from his 4 overs.^[17] In the same year, he made his highest ODI score of 72 against India on 4 August 2012. However, Sri Lanka lost the match by 20 runs.^[18] On 10 November 2012, he achieved his best ODI bowling figures, where he took 3 for 15 against New Zealand in a rain-affected match in Hambantota. Sri Lanka finally won the match by 7 wickets and Mendis won the man of the match award.^[19]

After three years of break in international arena, Mendis was surprisingly picked up for the Twenty20 International series against Bangladesh in February 2018.^[20] He played his comeback match on 15 February 2018 and took two wickets for just 21 runs. Sri Lanka won the match by 6 wickets.^[21]

In April 2019, he was named in Sri Lanka's squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup.^[22][23] After lean streak by both bat and ball, he was dropped from the limited over squad following the exit from World Cup.^[24]

T20 franchise cricket

In October 2018, he was named in Tshwane Spartans' squad for the first edition of the Mzansi Super League T20 tournament.^[25][26] He was the joint-leading wicket-taker for the team in the tournament, with sixteen dismissals in nine matches.^[27] In November 2019, he was selected to play for the Sylhet Thunder in the 2019–20 Bangladesh Premier League.^[28]

References

1. "Sri Lanka cricketer Jeevan Mendis announces retirement from international cricket". crictracker.com. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
2. "Jason Ralston claims best bowling figures at ICC U-19 World Cup". The Indian Express. 19 January 2018. Retrieved 19 January 2018.
3. "Match scorecard". CricketArchive. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
4. "Match scorecard". CricketArchive. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
5. "1st Round, Colombo, Aug 17 2004, Twenty-20 Tournament". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 21 April 2021.
6. "Jeevan Mendis: Derbyshire sign Sri Lanka all-rounder". BBC Sport. 28 October 2016. Retrieved 18 April 2017.
7. "Cricket: Mixed opinions on Provincial tournament". Sunday Times (Sri Lanka). 26 March 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
8. "All you need to know about the SL Super Provincial Tournament". Daily Sports. 26 March 2018. Archived from the original on 27 March 2018. Retrieved 27 March 2018.
9. "SLC Super Provincial 50 over tournament squads and fixtures". The Papare. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
10. "SLC T20 League 2018 squads finalized". The Papare. Retrieved 16 August 2018.
11. "Jeevan Mendis picks up record breaking 9/53". The Papare. Retrieved 29 December 2018.
12. "Premier League Tournament Tier A, 2018/19 – Tamil Union Cricket and Athletic Club: Batting and bowling averages". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 10 February 2019.
13. "Squads, Fixtures announced for SLC Provincial 50 Overs Tournament". The Papare. Retrieved 19 March 2019.
14. "3rd Match, Bulawayo, Jun 1 2010, Zimbabwe Triangular Series". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
15. "Chandimal ton sends India packing". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
16. "Final, Harare, Jun 9 2010, Zimbabwe Triangular Series". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
17. "The Mendises script big win for Sri Lanka". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
18. "5th ODI (D/N), Pallekele, Aug 4 2012, India tour of Sri Lanka". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
19. "Bowlers deliver series win for Sri Lanka". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
20. "Sri Lanka pick Asitha for T20 series, Jeevan Mendis returns". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 7 February 2018.
21. "1st T20I (N), Sri Lanka Tour of Bangladesh at Dhaka, Feb 15 2018". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 February 2018.
22. "Thirimanne, Siriwardana, Vandersay picked in World Cup squad". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
23. "Jeevan Mendis, Siriwardana, Vandersay make comebacks in Sri Lanka World Cup squad". International Cricket Council. Retrieved 18 April 2019.
24. "Niroshan Dickwella, Akila Dananjaya, Lakshan Sandakan recalled for Bangladesh ODIs". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 15 February 2020.
25. "Mzansi Super League – full squad lists". Sport24. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
26. "Mzansi Super League Player Draft: The story so far". The Independent. London. Retrieved 17 October 2018.
27. "Mzansi Super League, 2018/19 – Tshwane Spartans: Batting and bowling averages". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 12 December 2018.
28. "BPL draft: Tamim Iqbal to team up with coach Mohammad Salahuddin for Dhaka". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 18 November 2019.

External links

• Jeevan Mendis at ESPNcricinfo