Flashback: Only Test batter to be dismissed on 99 and 199
Reaching the landmark of a century and a double century is one of the proudest and most priceless moments for any cricketer irrespective of the format. The Test format is the ultimate one with every player dreaming of representing their country in the whites. Scoring a ton in Test cricket is extremely special for any cricketer but there have been many instances when they just fall short of the milestone. A Sri Lankan player is the only one in history to get dismissed on 99 and 199 in the longest format of the game.
Sri Lankan cricketer Angelo Mathews made his Test debut against Pakistan in Galle in July 2009. The right-hander looked compact and complete batter as he became a vital cog in Sri Lanka’s middle-order across formats. Though, he has suffered the disappointment of falling short of the landmark not once but twice in his Test career.
The Lankan Lions toured India for a full-fledged series in the year 2009 and in the third and final Test, Mathews headed back to the pavilion just one run short of a century. The visitors batted first at the Brabourne Stadium in Mumbai and got bundled out for 393.
Mathews, who batted at no. six, got out for 99 off 131 which included 15 fours. To add more misery, he got dismissed run-out courtesy of the duo of Sachin Tendulkar-MS Dhoni. The home side won the match by an innings and 24 runs to also seal the series 2-0.
13 years later, he suffered another heartbreak against Bangladesh in Chattogram in May 2022. In the first innings of the first Test match, the tourists batted first and posted a total of 397 on the board. Batting at no. four, Mathews smashed 199 off 397 with the help of 19 fours and a maximum.
Bangladeshi spinner Nayeem Hasan denied him a well-deserved double century as the Sri Lankan fell agonizingly short of his personal milestone. The game ended up in a draw with Mathews winning the Player of the Match award. He has played 104 Tests so far in which he has scored 7218 runs at an impressive average of 45.39. In 184 innings, Mathews has struck 15 centuries and 38 half-centuries.
