Angelo Mathews wasn’t overly disheartened after getting out on 199 in the first-innings of the ongoing Chattogram Test against Bangladesh, with the Sri Lankan veteran using humour to try and overcome the disappointment of missing out on a double hundred.
With Sri Lanka nine down at the time, Mathews was aiming for the single, which would’ve not only enabled his 200 but also allowed him to retain strike for the next over and protect the No.11 Asitha Fernando.
Gauging the batter’s intentions early, home team skipper Mominul Haque brought in all the deep fielders, placing an extra man down the leg side. To Matthews’ dismay, he found this man at the short mid-wicket region after getting an inside edge following an attempt to drag a ball from outside the off-stump to the on-side against off-spinner Nayeem Hasan.
Matthews agreed at the post-day presser that his stroke was a premeditated one but didn’t sound too hurt with what had happened, having played a major role in giving Sri Lanka a pretty healthy score of 397 on a surface expected to only further dry out and get tougher for batting.
“I just premeditated the shot. I didn’t connect it. It was one of those unfortunate incidents. Obviously, it would have been nice to get that one run but you have to take what God gives you.
Getting that one run off the last ball with the last man, I wanted to get to the double-hundred. I miscalculated it, and unfortunately, Shakib caught it (laughs).
Matthews was quoted as saying by ESPNcricinfo.
Apart from that one error, Matthews didn’t make many through his nine and a half hours stint at the crease that singlehandedly kept Sri Lanka in the game. The veteran right-hander, who is now a Test specialist for his side, battled absorbing heat and accurate Bangladesh bowling to produce one of his finest centuries.
The 34-year-old attributed this effort to a much-improved work ethic and focus on fitness regime under former head coach Mickey Arthur, stating he felt “exhausted” at some points of his knock but still had it in the tank to continue concentrating and bat long.
