The cricketing sphere in Sri Lanka was abuzz as the island nation pulled off a nail-biting win against Zimbabwe in the first match of their T20I series. The encounter, which went down to the wire ending on the last ball, saw Sri Lanka eking out a thrilling three-wicket victory while chasing a target of 144 runs. A standout performance came from Angelo Mathews, playing his first T20I since 2021, who masterminded the victory with a crucial 46 runs off 38 balls. Not only did he anchor the innings, but he also walked away with the Player of the Match award for his efforts in rescuing the team from a precarious position of 83 for 6 after 14 overs.
The match reached a fever pitch when Sri Lanka found themselves in dire straits, requiring 59 runs with just 34 balls remaining and only four wickets in the bag. However, Mathews, along with former captain Dasun Shanaka, forged an instrumental partnership of 55 runs, guiding the team to victory on that tension-filled final delivery. This significant innings from Mathews came after a long hiatus from white-ball cricket, which has been a subject of controversy for the seasoned all-rounder.
Mathews expressed frustration at the previous selection committee, led by Pramoda Wickramasinghe, over what he deemed as their ‘agenda-driven’ decisions that sidelined him since 2021. Despite showing excellent form in the Lanka Premier League (LPL), where his contributions with both bat and ball were significant, Mathews was notably excluded from the national team’s white-ball squads including the one that did not make it to the ODI World Cup last year, until a series of injuries necessitated his return.
Post-match, Mathews did not mince his words: “In the last two Lanka Premier League (LPL) seasons I batted and bowled well, but unfortunately I wasn’t selected for the T20 World Cups, and I wasn’t given reasons for that. If you take decisions that are driven by agendas, these kinds of things can happen – we haven’t even qualified for the Champions Trophy.”
However, Mathews is now seemingly reinvigorated with a sense of optimism under the new selection panel’s leadership of Upul Tharanga, who are reciprocating with clear communication and an expected role for him moving forward. “The communication with me and the new selectors is quite clear. They asked me what my plans were for the future and [told me] their plans as well. We had a very good discussion. They said that I’m in their plans for the T20 World Cup, and if I could bowl a few overs. I said: ‘Absolutely – if I can help the team in any way’,” Mathews relayed.
With the T20 World Cup looming on the horizon, a fit and spirited Mathews participating as an all-rounder could bring significant firepower to the Sri Lankan squad. His performance against Zimbabwe may well be an indicator of his valuable experience and skill that can give Sri Lanka the edge they seek on the world stage.
In related developments within the cricketing fraternity, a series opener win against Zimbabwe has marked a new era for Sri Lanka’s T20 squad under the guidance of Wanindu Hasaranga. Elsewhere, Rohit Sharma earned a record with India’s series triumph over Afghanistan, and a zealous fan who breached security to meet Virat Kohli during a match also made headlines.
In a sport so driven by form and fitness, the saga of Angelo Mathews serves as a testament to resilience and a reminder that skill, when coupled with determination, can find its way back, lighting up stadiums and fulfilling the ambitions of a player and his passionate nation.
