3 Batting pairs which batted the entire day to change the course of a Test match

#3 Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis (239 runs against New Zealand in Wellington 2018)

Angelo Mathews and Kusal Mendis stitched 239 runs on Day 4

The first Test of Sri Lanka’s tour of New Zealand began with the Sri Lankans getting bundled out for 282 in the first innings. The Kiwis in reply to the Sri Lankans put up a dominating batting performance led from the front by their opener Tom Latham who carried his bat throughout the innings to score an unbeaten 264 to take the Kiwis to a total of 578.

The Sri Lankan second innings began with the Sri Lankans reeling at the score of 13 for 3. The top 3 batsmen had no reply to the bowling combination of Tim Southee and Trent Boult. Angelo Mathews who had earlier scored 83 in the first innings had a lot to prove with questions being raised about his fitness.

Mendis and Mathews batted the entire day to score 239 runs stamping their authority and bringing Sri Lanka back into the game. Their innings lit up the fortunes for Sri Lanka as due to a torrential downpour on the fifth day only 12 overs could be bowled. Thus the game was abandoned and ended in a draw. The unbeaten innings of 141 by Mendis and 120 by Mathews spanned over seven hours each as they came to Sri Lanka’s rescue.