Mathews’ score of 141 and Chandimal’s contribution of 107 have propelled Sri Lanka to a commanding position, leading Afghanistan by 212 runs in their second innings.
In the ongoing Test match at SSC, Sri Lanka posted a total of 410 for 6, largely fueled by the stellar partnership of Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal. The duo added 232 runs for the fourth wicket, firmly establishing Sri Lanka’s dominance on a flat pitch. Despite the inexperience of the Afghanistan bowling attack, they managed to claim six wickets during the day.
Debutant Naveed Zadran and legspinner Qais Ahmad impressed with two wickets each. Mathews, after a splendid innings, fell victim to a hit-wicket dismissal off the last ball of the day, ending the day on a slightly somber note for Sri Lanka.
The bowlers faced a tough challenge on a pitch that showed little signs of turning. Left-arm spinner Zia-ur-Rehman, also making his Test debut, bowled tightly but couldn’t break through in his 28 overs. Mohammad Saleem, another debutant, had to leave the field after delivering the first ball of his 13th over due to a suspected leg injury.
The highlight of the day was the Mathews-Chandimal partnership, where Mathews showcased his steady and controlled innings, reaching his 16th Test century. Chandimal, not to be outdone, played aggressively, scoring a century off 168 balls. However, his dismissal, caught behind off Naveed’s delivery with the second new ball, triggered a mini-collapse for Sri Lanka, losing three wickets for 30 runs by the end of the day.
Before the dominant partnership, Afghanistan had a decent first session, making early breakthroughs with Naveed dismissing Nishan Madushka and Masood bouncing out Kusal Mendis. Despite these efforts, Sri Lanka’s captain, Dimuth Karunaratne, played a crucial role in pushing the total beyond Afghanistan’s reach, scoring a quick 77 off 72 balls.
