As Sri Lanka made a strong start in the first Test against New Zealand in Christchurch, veteran batsman Angelo Mathews passed former skipper Sanath Jayasuriya to become just the third Sri Lankan to reach 7000 Test runs.
Sri Lanka reached 305/6 at stumps on the first day at Hagley Oval, keeping their slim hopes of reaching the ICC World Test Championship final against Australia alive. Mathews scored a valuable 47.
Angelo Mathews goes past Sanath Jayasuriya and become the 3rd Sri Lankan player to reach 7️⃣0️⃣0️⃣0️⃣ Test runs 🙌 #NZvSL pic.twitter.com/Y56YdYctaj
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) March 9, 2023
Sri Lanka need to clinch a 2-0 series sweep over the Kiwis in New Zealand and rely on India not defeating Australia in the concurrent Test in Ahmedabad to reach the World Test Championship decider and they gave themselves every chance of doing so on Thursday after they were sent into bat first by Black Caps captain Tim Southee. (ICC)
