The miracles of Wellington may not be repeated in Christchurch as one of the main architects of pulling off an impossible draw for Sri Lanka in the previous Test, Angelo Mathews was sent for scans late on Day 4 in the second Test for possibly pulling a hamstring. Mathews is in danger of not being able to bat in the second innings, leaving Sri Lanka’s task of saving the Test match and the series a near-impossible task.
Chasing an improbable 660 for victory, Sri Lanka went to stumps at 231 for 6 with Suranga Lakmal and Dilruwan Perera at the crease.
Mathews was batting on 14 off 38 balls when he hurt his left thigh while coming back for the second run off Trent Boult’s delivery. He clutched his left thigh towards the end of completing the second run and started hobbling before going down. He was attended on the field and somehow batted through to tea but was clearly in a lot of discomforts. He was literally hobbling on one leg for four overs. Quite expectedly, he did not come out to bat after tea and the Sri Lankan physio later revealed that he had possibly pulled up a hamstring and was sent for scans.
The team management will decide whether they will risk Mathews or not based on the scan reports.
Interestingly, it was Mathews and Kusal Menids who batted through Day 4 without losing a wicket in the first Test before the rain came to Sri Lanka’s rescue.
Mathews’ injury could come as a major blow to Sri Lanka even in the ODI series. The former captain has had a history of calf and hamstring injuries. He had only resumed bowling after a gap of almost two years in the first Test.