Angelo Mathews rediscovers self, in a support role
Sri Lanka have struggled through the tour by India, but having lost Angelo Mathews as skipper, the island’s cricket team is slowly ‘regaining’ the allrounder. On Sunday, Mathews struck his second half-century in a row in the series, scoring 55 in a 122-run partnership with another seasoned player, Lahiru Thirimanne, who top-scored with 67.
The Sri Lankan total of 238 was the highest of the series, but it may be too little to help them avoid a whitewash. Still, if the hosts are looking to take some positives, Mathews will be one.
The 30-year-old was barely visible going into the Test series, and when the ODIs started. The leader of the pack until a month ago, he is regaining his poise, though in a support role as batsman. Mathews again demonstrated the virtue of patience to his struggling team, where most batsmen have fallen to anxiety, trying to manufacture shots.
Mathews top-scored with 70 in the previous game. He was again willing to support Thirimanne, who made his second fifty of the series after being recalled as an injury replacement.
The nation’s most talented player after the retirements of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene, Angelo Mathews was at his lowest after Sri Lanka were upset 2-3 in the home ODI series by Zimbabwe.
He resigned as skipper amid reports that he was not getting enough support from the cricket administration. That came after the early exit in the Champions Trophy. Injuries left him half the player he was, as he took up bowling only in this series while his batting too had suffered.
In this series, Mathews has also not spoken to the media, not stepping to the front for his beleaguered teammates. Neither was he asked to deputise when captain Upul Tharanga was banned for two games due to the
team’s slow over rate.