When people deliver in the least expected of times, the achievement is all the more profound and laudable. So it was with the marvelous unbeaten centuries by Kusal Mendis (141) and Angelo Mathews (120) who were involved in a record stand of 274 for the 4th wicket that saved the blushes for Sri Lanka when defeat was staring them in the face in the first of Two Tests against the Black Caps at the Basin Reserve in Wellington on Wednesday.
But the Lankans cannot be satisfied with this effort. Had not rain ruined the final day’s play, with cricket associated with the glorious uncertainties, what could have finally happened only the cricketing gods could predict.
But that apart, the two Ms Mendis and Matthews provided an example to all their batting team mates how to bat in adversity. When the Lankans took second knock, trailing by a lot of runs and with three top order batsmen in the dugout for 13, it looked as though it would be a matter of time before the inevitable.
It is usual for a team losing a wicket in the closing stages, to send in what is called a night watchman. But the much maligned former Sri Lanka Captain in all versions Angelo Mathews took it on himself to come out and face the Black Caps pace trio of Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner who were threatening destruction.
First to Kusal Mendis. That this youngster is oozing with talent there is enough proof. He has matured into wielding the willow with RESPONSIBILITY. He has what it takes to be classed with the best in the world. But his impatience and impetuosity has gone to cause his downfall when his innings seems to be blossoming.
We are sure his coaches would have told and shown him how many a time. It is time now to gather the advice and get down to scoring consistently which is what the game is all about.
While he has strokes all round the wicket, the stroke that brings about his downfall is the wrong delivery he picks to hit between mid wicket and mid on and dollies a catch to either mid wicket or short mid on fieldsmen. Opponents have studied this weakness and fed him deliveries to go for this shot.
Mendis must now be aware that to be bracketed with the greats, he needs to score consistently. Then and only then can he be called great. Today great is a loosely used a word. He must also cut out the risks. It is said that a vulture is a patient bird. Mendis must base his batting on patience, determination and concentrating for great periods like he did at the Basin Reserve.
Mendis had the good fortune of having the GREAT Angelo Mathews one of the best all rounders to come out of the Sri Lanka cricketing cupboard to speak to him, control his exuberance and like a father guide and guard him during his marathon innings.
Mathews who has been pushed from pillar to post and shabbily treated, and who suffered the ignominy of being dropped from the shorter formats, had the last laugh at his detractors. Every time he made ball hit bat, I am sure he was hitting at his detractors.
But Mathews must not be unduly worried and always when he walks out to take strike, must show that he is indispensable and a rock in the team on with big scores and even when matches are saved and won.
Mathews is the elder statesman in the team and is aware that the youngsters in the team are looking up to to him as a role model and an example and should walk the gauntlet like that.
Mathews in this big innings showed that he has a lot more cricket left in him. In putting his head down, farming the bowling on its merits, giving directions to his junior, showing tremendous dedication and determination he saved his team the blushes.
It is no easy task batting for a full day. But the two MS showed that if there is a will there is a way, and it is this will that made them to stand up to the probing Black Cap pacemen Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Niel Wagner and the spin of Ajex Patel and while keeping their wickets intact, did not respect to the bowling by scoring runs when the loose balls came along.
While critics are taking Mathews’ detractors daily to the cleaners, the writer feels sympathy for them. The darts they threw at Mathews, was not done to belittle the great, but done in good faith and it must be taken in the spirit it was done.
Accepted that the detractors were a wee bit harsh on Mathews by picking holes and challenging his fitness and citing the many run outs that he was involved in to keep him out of the limited over bashers.
With this marathon innings he has done more than enough and proved that he is in peak fitness and the detractors must now pocket their beliefs and allow Mathews to perform the way he is capable of and give him all the inspiration and courage to motor on and be fit as a fiddle when 2019 World Cup comes around and push him to be the vital cog in our push for the World Cup.
Mathews is also human and like all sportsmen or sportswomen is bound to suffer injury in this highly professionalized and commercialized cricket world. It is the job of the medical men around the team to treat the injuries and give him time to recover.
When this homily is read, the second day of the Second Test was over which saw ugly batting at the Hagley Oval with Sri Lanka after restricting New Zealand to 178, collapsed sensationally from 88 for 4 to be all out for 104, losing the last six batsmen for 16 runs.
The Black Caps batting a second time were 231 for two a lead of 305 and in the driving seat. It will be an uphill task for Sri Lank to save the Test.
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