Christchurch: Agnelo Mathews scored his 14th Test century as Sri Lanka set hosts New Zealand 257 runs on the final day tomorrow.
Sri Lanka require nine wickets but the visitors’ biggest obstacle might be the rain that is forecast for Monday morning.
“We’ve got the fast bowlers to exploit the conditions,” Mathews told www.espncricinfo.com. “We’ve got some fantastic fast bowlers in the group, and we have the belief that if the batters get the runs on the board, the fast bowlers will definitely come into play, with the conditions.
In the 17 overs Sri Lanka bowled at New Zealand before stumps, the seamers were probing and disciplined.
Kasun Rajitha claimed the wicket of Devon Conway, and New Zealand could not score at more than 1.64 an over, finishing at 28 for 1, with Tom Latham and Kane Williamson the overnight batters.
“You can’t predict a wicket 100%, but there was variable bounce today,” Mathews said. “But hoping he [Prabath Jayasuriya] can hit the rough spots. Especially to the left-hander there’s a big rough on either side. The spinner also might come into play – you never know.”
His own 115 off 235 balls, which was his 14th Test ton and his second in successive tours of New Zealand, Mathews put down to experience.
Mathews forged a 105-run partnership with Dinesh Chandimal, then put on 60 alongside Dhananjaya de Silva.
