Angelo Mathews' bizarre dismissal made headlines during Day 2 of the ongoing one-off Test between Sri Lanka and Afghanistan on February 3. Sri Lanka closed the day on 410/6, with Angelo Mathews' innings coming to an end when he was bowled by Qais Ahmad, accidentally hitting his own stumps in an attempt to sweep on the second delivery of the 102nd over.
Mathews showcased exceptional skill during his innings, crafting a magnificent century. In a substantial partnership, he and Dinesh Chandimal combined for a 232-run stand for the fourth wicket from 381 deliveries. Chandimal contributed significantly as well, scoring 107 runs from 181 balls, marking his century. This performance has put Sri Lanka in a commanding position against Afghanistan in this standalone Test match. This century represents Chandimal's second in his last seven Tests, with his previous hundred scored against Ireland in Galle.
Bizarre dismissal ends Angelo Mathews' innings
On the second day of batting, Sri Lanka experienced an early setback, losing their first wicket at 90 runs when Naveed Zadran took out Nishan Madushka for 37 runs off 53 balls. Kusal Mendis, who managed only 10 runs from 22 balls, was soon dismissed by Nijat Masood, failing to make a significant impact. Following these early losses, captain Dimuth Karunaratne stepped up, scoring a half-century and playing a leadership role.
However, Dimuth Karunaratne's innings was halted by Qais Ahmed after a well-made 77 runs from 72 balls. Before his dismissal, Karunaratne and Angelo Mathews had added 33 runs for the third wicket. The fall of Dinesh Chandimal to Naveed Zadran and the run-out of Dhananjaya de Silva for a golden duck by Hasmatullah Shahidi followed.
During the entire second day of the sole Test match, Sri Lankan batsmen dominated the Afghan bowlers, who seemed at a loss for strategies. By the close of Day 2, Qais Ahmad and Naveed Zadran each claimed two wickets, while Nijat Masood accounted for one.
Afghanistan's team was dismissed for 198 runs in their first innings, largely due to the efforts of Vishwa Fernando, Asitha Fernando, and Prabath Jayasuriya. Vishwa claimed four wickets, while Asitha and Jayasuriya each took three wickets, significantly hampering Afghanistan's batting.
Rahmat Shah stood out as the lone highlight for Afghanistan, scoring 91 runs off 139 balls. Unfortunately, the rest of the Afghan batsmen were unable to sustain their presence at the crease, leading to a disappointing batting display.
Angelo Mathews, a stalwart of Sri Lankan cricket, was sidelined by selectors for an extended period but made a triumphant return during the ODI World Cup 2023, once again demonstrating his prowess in international cricket. Dinesh Chandimal, on the other hand, has been a consistent figure in Sri Lanka's Test squad, bringing a wealth of experience to the team.
Despite facing a slump in form over recent years, Sri Lanka's latest performances indicate a promising resurgence in international cricket.
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