Taking it calmly and being hopeful are most likely one of many higher methods to cope with such a scenario. Despite being a visiting batter, the small crowd on the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium waited for Mathews to achieve his second double-hundred. Once he reached the 190s, it was solely a case of staying on strike. He struck a 4 to maneuver to 196, and took a fast two with a dab to 3rd man to maneuver to 199.
Next ball, the final of Nayeem Hasan’s over, the plan was to take the one that will take him to the landmark, but in addition hold him on strike for the subsequent over as Sri Lanka have been 9 down. Mominul Haque introduced in all of the fielders. Nayeem floated one nicely exterior off, which Mathews wafted at, and solely inside-edged it to midwicket, the place Shakib Al Hasan took a straightforward catch.
“I just premeditated the shot,” Mathews mentioned. “I didn’t connect it. It was one of those unfortunate incidents. Obviously, it would have been nice to get that one run but you have to take what God gives you. Getting that one run off the last ball with the last man, I wanted to get to the double-hundred. I miscalculated it, and unfortunately, Shakib caught it (laughs). I am thankful that I was able to play a good knock. Hopefully it will help us win the game.”
Except that one run although, Mathews stored Sri Lanka’s innings collectively for 9 hours and 38 minutes. Fighting oppressive warmth and humidity, and fairly correct bowling from the Bangladesh spinners, he stored Sri Lanka on observe with sizeable partnerships and bought them out of hassle on three or 4 events too.
Mathews has since labored on his health beneath Mickey Arthur, and is thought for an improved perspective in direction of health, weight loss plan and gymnasium.
“I was exhausted, to be honest, especially in the heat. It was 42 degrees, boiling hot in the middle,” Mathews mentioned. “But I knew that once I get a start, no matter what the situation and condition is, if I am set, I need to carry through.
“That’s why we do the health, and so forth, to play in excessive situations. We are grateful to the trainers for pushing all of us. Whatever situations you get, you must carry out to one of the best of your capacity. Lot of labor is being put behind the scenes by all of the coaches.”
Mathews said that he expected other set batters to get big scores like him, whenever Sri Lanka get into these positions. “We have gotten a couple of seniors like Dimuth, Chandimal and Dickwella. Dhananjaya has performed various cricket too. The pondering among the many batters is that whoever will get a begin has to make it rely.
“Yesterday and today were my days. Next time it will be another. Hopefully he carries us through. Whoever gets set, has to bat deep.”
Mathews believed that they got here up a bit quick with their first innings rating, of 397, however mentioned Bangladesh bowled nicely all through the 2 days to maintain them within the straight and slim.
“It is a par score on this really good wicket. Bangladesh bowled extremely well. They didn’t give anything away. No freebies. They bowled to a line and length. They put us under a lot of pressure, made us work really hard for our runs.
“Nayeem bought the ball to show a bit of bit as nicely. Eventually they bought the outcomes. We misplaced a couple of fast wickets. We misplaced our means within the center. I believed we have been about 50-60 runs quick. We needed someplace round 500 runs.”
Mohammad Isam is ESPNcricinfo’s Bangladesh correspondent. @isam84