Mathews sets up Christchurch Test nicely 

Sri Lanka’s hopes of playing the World Test Championship final later this year at The Oval during the British summer largely depended on Angelo Mathews and he didn’t disappoint posting his 14th Test hundred enabling Sri Lanka to set the Kiwis a challenging target.

Play gets underway in Christchurch at 3:30 am Sri Lanka time as New Zealand is seven and half hours ahead and most Sri Lankan fans who switched on their televisions at 6am yesterday after late nights on Saturday expected Sri Lanka to have collapsed as they had done time and again in recent years. But instead they found a fight back with Mathews leading the way.

It was that kind of a wicket as a batter never looked comfortable against seamers and it helped that the Kiwis were without Neil Wagner, ruled out with a hamstring injury. Matt Henry wasn’t firing on all cylinders either having needed three stitches in the webbing between his thumb and index finger but that’s not to say that run making was a walk in the park.

Where this Test and the series was heading depended on Mathews.  He ended up giving Sri Lanka a very good chance to win the game. Mathews while posting 115 shared a 105 run stand with Dinesh Chandimal (42) and a further 60 runs with Dhananjaya de Silva (47 not out).  Under pressure to save his place, Niroshan Dickwella didn’t do himself any favours as he was caught behind for a duck. It was a good ball but patience is running thin given Dickwella’s poor numbers and captain Dimuth Karunaratne who’s backed him to the hilt will have to do lot so convincing with the selectors to stop him being axed for the second Test.

The day belonged to Mathews as he showcased his ability to build an innings and put Sri Lanka in a formidable position.

At stumps on day four, the Kiwis were 28 for one chasing 285 to win. Devon Conway was dismissed early by Kasun Rajitha and all three quicks bowled impeccable lines and will have to do more of that as New Zealand begin day five needing 257 runs. Kane Williamson will be the key for New Zealand and Sri Lanka need to knock him off early if they are to pull off a win.

Sri Lanka dominated the first two days of the Test but defensive field settings helped the Kiwis to stage a comeback and even end up with a first innings lead.