CHITTAGONG: Sri Lanka’s Angelo Mathews said he accepted his fate after being cruelly dismissed one run short of a double century in the first Test against Bangladesh on Monday.
His departure meant the callers were sailed out for 397 runs after losing their last six lattices for just 78 runs on day two on a flat Chittagong gate.
At wholes the hosts were 76 without loss, with nature Tamim Iqbal on 35 and Mahmudul Hasan on 31, running by 321 when bad light stopped play with seven overs still to be sailed.
“ Obviously, it would have been nice to get that one run but you have to take what God gives you. I’m thankful that I was suitable to play a good knock.
“ Hopefully it’ll help us win the game,” Mathews said.
Off- incentive Nayeem Hasan broke Mathews’s heart, forcing him to ladle a catch to Shakib Al Hasan at square leg on 199 as he made a hopeless attempt to complete his double hundred with last man Vishwa Fernando at the other end.
The Sri Lankan’s former loftiest Test score was 200 not out.
“ I just premeditated the shot. I did n’t connect it. It was one of those unfortunate incidents,” Mathews said.
Nayeem finished with numbers of 6-105 on his home ground, the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium, while Shakib claimed 3-60 for Bangladesh.
Running out of mates, Mathews had the double hundred in his sights after participating 47 runs with Vishwa for the ninth gate.
But the number 10 took a blow on his helmet before tea and didn’t return to the field after the break.
Last man Asitha Fernando survived 27 balls to give him support before he was sailed by Nayeem.
Vishwa also heroically returned to the crinkle, egging Mathews to make his hopeless attempt for the double hundred.
He struck Taijul Islam for a four to reach 196 before a single and double took him indeed closer, only to be denied by Nayeem.
Mathews, who proceeded on 114, before participated 136 runs with fellow overnight batsman Dinesh Chandimal (66).
In the 24th over of the session, Chandimal tried a premeditated reverse reach but failed to make contact and was given out lbw, upheld on review.
Nayeem soon had a fourth gate when he sailed wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella, who made only three, four balls latterly.
“ I only allowed of bowling in good areas. Moment I tried to make my deliveries a bit hastily,” Nayeem said.
Shakib took two lattices in two balls in the first over after the break to push Sri Lanka into a corner.
He first sailed Ramesh Mendis for one and also trapped Lasith Embuldeniya leg before for no score.
Mushfiqur Rahim dropped Fernando atmid-on on 16 to deny Shakib his fourth gate.
Bangladesh also missed a chance to dismiss Mathews on 119 in the fourth over of the day.
Khaled Ahmed beat the Sri Lankan with an outswinger but there was no appeal for a catch before, despite technology suggesting Mathews had edged the ball.
Mathews hit 19 fours and a six in his 397-ball innings before the agonising end as Bangladesh wrapped up Sri Lanka’s first innings in 153 overs, 40 twinkles into the final session.
