The best of Angelo Mathews in Test cricket
As Sri Lanka’s ace all-rounder calls time on his Test career, we take a look at some of his memorable performances in the longest format.
17 years. 118 Tests. 33 wickets. 8167 runs. 16 hundreds and 45 half-centuries. The numbers speak for themselves as Angelo Mathews calls time on his Test career for Sri Lanka.
One of the finest to have represented Sri Lanka, the 37-year-old accumulated the third-most runs in Tests for the island nation, just behind Kumar Sangakkara (12400) and Mahela Jayawardena (11814).
Mathews delivered some glittering performances in the format he ‘cherished’ the most. We take a trip down memory lane to revisit some of his greatest red-ball cricket performances for Sri Lanka:
— Angelo Mathews (@Angelo69Mathews) May 23, 2025
102 v England (Lord’s, 2014)
Sri Lanka’s memorable tour of England saw Mathews come into his own as the captain, leading from the front in a remarkable series win, and it all started at the first Test in Lord’s. With Joe Root scoring an unbeaten 200, the hosts were in the driving seat, having declared their first innings at 575/9.
Sri Lanka managed a stern response, with veteran Kumar Sangakkara (147) forging a scintillating ton. But the visitors were still in a precarious position - 289/4 - when Mathews walked in to bat in the first innings. The Sri Lankan captain stitched together a 96-run stand with Kumar Sangakkara for the fifth wicket, and went on to get his name on the Lord’s Honours Board with an impeccable century.
The skipper managed to avert a final day loss with a resilient 18 off 90 deliveries in the second innings as the Test match ended in a draw - a result that eventually helped Sri Lanka win the series.
Mahela Jayawardena hails Angelo Mathews' glittering Test career | The ICC Review
4/44 and 160 v England, (Headingley, 2014)
Following a stellar display in the previous Test, Sri Lanka were on the back foot after being bowled out for only 257 in the first innings. The visitors required second innings inspiration and the Sri Lankan skipper provided just that.
With the ball in hand, the all-rounder broke the stand between Gary Ballance and Sam Robson, removing the former off a caught-behind dismissal. The wicket pulled the momentum back in Sri Lanka’s favor as the visitors notched breakthroughs in regular intervals. Mathews would go on to remove Joe Root, Stuart Broad and Liam Plunkett as England were bowled out for 365 early on Day three.
He then went on to impact the game with the bat, walking in at the score of 176/4 and helping his side strengthen their lead. The right-handed batter stitched a mammoth 149-run partnership with Rangana Herath for the eighth wicket, finishing up with 160 runs off 249 deliveries, piercing 25 boundaries and a solitary maximum.
Sri Lanka managed to close their innings with 457 on the board, and wrapped up the game by 100 runs, clinching a historic Test series win in England. Mathews was adjudged Player of the Match for his all-round heroics.
Angelo Matthews celebrates his century on the way to 160 as he led Sri Lanka to a memorable victory against England in Headingley // Getty Images
91 and 157 v Pakistan (Abu Dhabi, 2014)
Sri Lanka were put into bat by Pakistan in the first Test of their three-match series. With the Pakistan bowlers having run through the top-order, Mathews arrived on the scene - looking to save his side from a Day 1 collapse. The 26-year-old lived up to his billing as skipper with a resolute 91 off 127 balls, helping his side amass 204 in the first innings.
In the second innings, Sri Lanka found themselves in trouble again, with a deficit of 179 runs. Arriving to bat at the score of 186/4, Mathews started from where he left in the first innings, quickly finding his rhythm as he combined alongside Dinesh Chandimal for a 138-run stand. The Sri Lankan skipper finished with a magnificent 157 as Sri Lanka declared at 480/5, giving Pakistan a target of 302.
The game eventually ended in a stalemate, and Mathews picked up the Player of the Match award for his heroics across both innings.
111 v India, Delhi, 2017
Following the onslaught of Virat Kohli (243) and Murali Vijay (155) in the first innings, India had declared at a sizeable first innings total of 536/7, leaving Sri Lanka with a mountain to climb.
To make matters worse for the visitors, a top-order collapse ensued, and Mathews was tasked once again with the rebuild. The veteran all-rounder put in a match-saving effort along with Dinesh Chandimal as the duo faced a total of 476 balls, collecting 181 runs for the fourth wicket. Mathews ended up scoring a valuable 111 off 268 deliveries with 14 boundaries and two sixes.
The knock marked Mathews’ first ton in 36 Test innings, his last coming against the same opposition in 2015. His efforts were eventually rewarded as Sri Lanka managed to force a draw at the end of the fifth day.
200 v Zimbabwe (Harare, 2020)
After losing both openers early in the Test, Mathews walked in at number four to steady the Sri Lanka innings. He put in a monumental effort, batting away for ten hours in Harare and scoring Sri Lanka’s first double century in the format in almost five years - the last having come from Kumar Sangakkara’s willow in 2015. Mathews’ highest score in the format (200*), which included 16 fours and three sixes, put the visitors in an unassailable position, declaring their innings at 515/9.
Sri Lanka then managed to bowl out the hosts for 170, and chased down the measly target of 14 to emerge victors in Harare. Mathews was named Player of the Match for his majestic knock.
Angelo Matthews celebrates his career high score of 200 against Zimbabwe in Harare // Getty Images