Sports
Mathews falls one short of double ton
Angelo Mathews missed out on his second double hundred by just one run as Bangladesh bowled out Sri Lanka for 397 runs in the first Test in Chittagong on Monday.Off-spinner Nayeem Hasan broke Mathews’s heart, forcing him to spoon a catch to Shakib Al Hasan at square leg on 199 as he made a desperate attempt to complete his double hundred with last man Vishwa Fernando at the other end.Nayeem finished with 6-105 on his home ground Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium while Shakib claimed 3-60 for Bangladesh.
Running out of partners, Mathews had the double hundred in his sights after sharing 47 runs with Vishwa for the ninth wicket.But the number 10 took a blow on his helmet before tea and did not return to the field.Last man Asitha Fernando survived 27 balls to give him support before he was bowled by Nayeem.Vishwa then heroically returned to the crease, prompting Mathews to make his desperate attempt for the double hundred.
He struck Taijul Islam for a four to reach 196 before a single and double took him even closer, only to be denied by Nayeem.Mathews, who resumed on 114, earlier shared 136 runs with fellow overnight batsman Dinesh Chandimal (66) before hosts Bangladesh had their first success of the day.In the 24th over of the session, Chandimal attempted a premeditated reverse sweep but failed to make contact and was given out lbw, upheld on review.Nayeem celebrated his third wicket of the innings and soon had a fourth when he bowled wicketkeeper-batsman Niroshan Dickwella, who made only three, four balls later.
Shakib took two wickets in two balls in the first over after the break to push Sri Lanka into a corner.He first bowled Ramesh Mendis for one and then trapped Lasith Embuldeniya leg before for no score.Mushfiqur Rahim dropped Fernando at mid-on on 16 to deny Shakib his fourth wicket.Bangladesh also missed a chance to dismiss Mathews on 119 in the fourth over of the day.Khaled Ahmed beat the Sri Lankan with an outswinger but there was no appeal for a catch behind, despite technology suggesting Mathews had edged the ball.Mathews hit 19 fours and a six in his 397-ball innings before the agonising end as Bangladesh wrapped up Sri Lanka’s first innings in 153 overs, 40 minutes into the final session.
His previous highest Test score was 200 not out.Mathews became the second Sri Lankan to be dismissed for 199 in Test match cricket with Sanath Jayasuriya being the first having fallen one short of a double hundred against India at SSC in 1997.Bangladesh were 76 for no loss at stumps on day two, trailing Sri Lanka by 321 runs.
Viran Chamuditha’s 94-ball 110 helped Sri Lanka Under 19 chase 262 and keep their hopes of qualifying for the semi-finals of the Men’s Under-19 World Cup 2026 alive. Sri Lanka will now have to hope Afghanistan lose to Ireland; otherwise, Afghanistan will go through. South Africa on the other hand, have lost all four of their games and are placed fifth in the six-team group.
The day began well for South Africa Under-19, who won the toss, chose to bat and added 96 for the first wicket. Once Vigneshwaran Akash got Adnaan Lagadien, Jorich Van Schalkwyk – the other opener – had to do the bulk of the scoring, with regular wickets falling at the other end.
Akash finished with a four-for and Kavija Gamage got two. There was a missed chance off Van Schalkwyk in the 21st over off Gamage, when he was on 50.
Van Schalkwyk made Sri Lanka pay with a 130-ball 116, featuring 13 fours and two sixes. After he fell, Paul James (37* off 36) and Michael Kruiskamp (21* off 15) gave South Africa a good finish, with an unbeaten 40-run stand off 31 balls.
Sri Lanka’s chase started shakily as Dimantha Mahavithana fell cheaply to Kruiskamp. Chamuditha then began a match-defining 143-run stand off 130 balls with Senuja Wekunagoda. Chamuditha contributed 85 of those run, and brought up his century during his stand with captain Vimath Dinsara, who chipped in with 32 off 38 balls.
Chamuditha finished with 13 boundaries and a six. After he fell, there were two handy partnerships of 31 and an unbeaten 28 between Chamika Heenatigala and Dulnith Sigera, which took Sri Lanka home with four overs to spare.
Brief scores:
Sri Lanka Under 19s 265 for 5 in 46 overs (Viran Chamuditha 110, Senuja Wekunagoda 48, Vimath Dinsara 32; M8chael Kruiskamp 2-59, Come Botha 2-37) beat South Africa Under 19s 261 for 7 in 50 overs (Jorich Van Schalkwyk 116, Adnaan Lagadien 46, Paul James 37* ; Vigneshwaran Akash 4-64, Kavija Gamage 2-61) by five wickets
Akash Vigneswaran celebrates a wicket with his team-mates, South Africa vs Sri Lanka, Under-19 World Cup, Bulawayo, January 29, 2026 (Cricinfo)
(Cricinfo)
Pavan Rathnayake has re-entered Sri Lanka’s T20I squad following his 121 off 115 balls in the third ODI against England. Omitted from the squad to play England in three T20Is, however, are fast bowler Nuwan Thushara and batting allrounder Kamindu Mendis. Legspinner Dushan Hemantha has also been left out.
Left-arm-spinning allrounder Dunith Wellalage retains his place in the T20I squad, though he hasn’t played a T20I since September. Maheesh Theekshana and Wanindu Hasaranga are the two other frontline spinners. Dhananjaya de Silva and Charith Asalanka – who both bowl fingerspin – are in the squad too.
On the seam-bowling front, Eshan Malinga and Pramod Madushan are in the squad, in addition to Dushmantha Chameera and Matheesha Pathirana. Thushara had been a consistent presence in Sri Lanka’s T20I squads over the past two years, but his omission comes after several modest performances since September.
Aside from Rathnayake’s inclusion, the batting is largely as expected, with Kusal Perera coming back in the only format he now plays.
Sri Lanka are yet to announce their squad for the T20 World Cup, which will start on February 7. Teams have time till January 31 to make changes to squads, following which they will have to get the approvals from the ICC to make changes.
Sri Lanka squad for England T20Is:
Dasun Shanaka (capt.), Pathum Nissanka, Kamil Mishara, Kusal Mendis, Kusal Perera, Dhananjaya de Silva, Charith Asalanka, Janith Liyanage, Pavan Rathnayake, Dunith Wellalage, Wanindu Hasaranga, Maheesh Theekshana, Dushmantha Chameera, Pramod Madushan, Matheesha Pathirana, Eshan Malinga
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