Angelo Mathews bids emotional farewell as Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh 1st Test ends in a draw

New Delhi: The first Test match between Sri Lanka and Bangladesh ended in a draw at the Galle International Stadium on Saturday, June 21. Angelo Mathews bows out of the longest format of the game. He made his Test debut in Galle, played his 100th Test at the same venue, and has chosen to retire from the same stadium.

Bangladesh got off to a poor start after opting to bat first as Sri Lankan pacers removed the top-order batters cheaply. But Najmul Hossain Shanto and Mushfiqur Rahim stitched a 264-run partnership for the fourth wicket and helped the visitors to make a comeback in the match.

Both batters played some stunning shots and put the pressure back on the Sri Lankan bowlers. Shanto scored 148 runs off 279 balls, and Mushfiqur amassed 163 runs off 350 balls. After the dismissal of Shanto, Mushfiqur forged another brilliant 149-run partnership with Litton Das for the fifth wicket as Bangladesh scored 495 runs in the first innings.

Pathum Nissanka and Lahiru Udara gave the hosts a perfect start and added 47 runs for the first wicket. Nissanka played a stunning innings, scoring 187 runs off 256 balls with the help of 23 boundaries and one maximum. Kamindu Mendis also amassed 87 runs off 187 balls, while Chandimal also made a significant contribution as Sri Lanka got all out for 485 runs in the first innings. Nayeem Hasan picked up five wickets, and Hasan Mahmud also took two wickets.

The visitors got a 10-run lead but got off to a bad start in the second as Prabath Jayasuriya removed Anamul on 4 runs. Shadman batted with positive intent and notched up a fifty. Shanto and Mushfiqur once again stitched a century partnership. After a long delay due to rain, the match started again, and Shanto notched up his second century of the match, and the visitors declared with the lead nearing 300.

The Sri Lankan opener started well, but both of them were dismissed in quick succession. The hosts lost two more wickets, but Kaminda and Dhananjaya de Silva ensured that the match ended in a draw.

‘It’s time for the younger players to take the baton’: Angelo Mathews

After the match, Angelo Mathews said that he can’t believe the love he received in his career and it wasn’t an easy journey. He praised Mushfiqur and Shanto and congratulated Bangladesh for the brilliant Test match.

“Well, obviously I’m emotional, retiring from the best format, the format that I loved playing. It’s time for the younger players to take the baton and drive Sri Lanka through. We certainly have the young talent in the dressing room. The win against England in England and whitewashing the Australians in Sri Lanka 3-0, that was a huge highlight and honour achieved by the entire team” Mathews said.