Former Sri Lankan skipper Angelo Mathews scored a brilliant century on the 3rd day of the 3rd and the final Test against India at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium, and along with current skipper Dinesh Chandimal, the duo ensured Sri Lanka didn’t lose a single wicket till the first one and a half sessions of Day 3. However, Mathews has been dropped as many as four times, and the middle order batsmen did make full use of his opportunity.
He struck some delightful shots and looked in complete control of proceedings. Mathews got his first life when he had hardly scored 30. It was skipper Virat Kohli who let go a straightforward catch in the slip cordon. He made amends for the dropped chance and struck some delightful shots to bring up yet another half-century.
He took on the chances and found the ropes of 14 occasions while a couple went over the fence. He drove and cut well, but with century within sights, Mathew edged yet another short of length delivery from Ishant Sharma straight to the slip cordon and this time it was Rohit Sharma who dropped a sitter. It was a straightforward catch and should have been taken.
Mathews went on to reach his 9th Test century and pumped his fist in the air after reaching the landmark. Just after reaching his century, Mathews stepped down the track and tried to smash Ravindra Jadeja out of the park. He got the outside half of the bat and didn’t middle it properly. Substitute fielder Vijay Shankar yet again grasped it as the ball went through his hands. It was again a catch that should have been taken but the day hasn’t been fruitful for India, and it continued in the same manner.
Earlier in the match, it was the double century of skipper Virat Kohli which helped India reach a mammoth total of 536/7 in their 1st innings. When the article was written Sri Lanka’s score was 246/3 with Mathews batting on 109 while Chandimal unbeaten on 84.
Now let us look how Twitter reacted to Mathew’s 9th Test century which helped the visitors claw their way back into the match
Angelo Mathews will be a delighted man. His maiden Test hundred in India. Last time Sri Lanka toured India, he was run out for 99 having chanced Sachin Tendulkar's arm. #INDvsSL
— Rex Clementine (@RexClementine) December 4, 2017
He has ridden his luck but Angelo Mathews has hung in there and showed us why he has to be up the order for Sri Lanka.
— Harsha Bhogle (@bhogleharsha) December 4, 2017
Congratulations to @Angelo69Mathews on a very fine 100. Showing his class against good bowling and in not so friendly conditions. Great stuff legend keep going. Sri Lanka is proud of you.
— Roshan Abeysinghe (@RoshanCricket) December 4, 2017
A ?after more than 2 years for Angelo Mathews. Well done!
Worth noticing how he managed to #PlayBold and fully capitalize on his good fortune.#INDvSL
— Royal Challengers Bangalore (@RCBTweets) December 4, 2017
8th Test century for Angelo Mathews! standing up for the team like a warrior. innings of the highest class. scoring hard runs as usual. Batted @Angelo69Mathews . #INDvSL #SriLanka #LKA
— Daniel Alexander (@daniel86cricket) December 4, 2017
Think Angelo Mathews is the Only player looks Uncomfortable on Field Even After Scoring Century..
Struggling Century!#INDvSL— Nandhini subramanian (@Nandhinisp) December 4, 2017
Test Match hundred for @Angelo69Mathews after 2 years, his last hundred was in August 2015 against India in Sanga’s last series
— Azzam Ameen (@AzzamAmeen) December 4, 2017
After two years, after 37 innings Angelo Mathews completes a century.
— Naresh ♝♞♜ (@nrshq) December 4, 2017
100 for @Angelo69Mathews after 2 years All thanks to poor fielding by indians…
— MONEY SINGH (@mohindernz99) December 4, 2017
Angelo Mathews scored a century(and he is running,jumping,scoring in boundaries)…and kudos to them,as they are not dying of poisioning now ??
— Soumitra Shankar (@vampire2298) December 4, 2017