Angelo Mathews joined legendary Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in an elite list of Sri Lankan cricketers on Friday (December 6). The star all-rounder became the third batter from the island nation to score 8000 runs in Test cricket. The 37-year-old right-handed batter who made his red-ball debut for the Sri Lankan team in July 2009 against Pakistan during a match played in Galle has 8006 runs to his name in 205 innings of 116 Tests played so far.
Mathews crossed the 8000-run mark during the second day’s play of the ongoing 2nd Test between Sri Lanka and South Africa at St George’s Park in Gqeberha. Mathews, who finished the second day’s play at the score of 40 runs from 71 balls, completed 8000 Test runs when he crossed the 34-run mark.
Sangakkara holds the record for scoring the most runs for Sri Lanka in Test cricket. During his 15-year-long career, the former left-handed batter scored 12,400 runs in 134 matches. He is followed by Jayawardene, who finished his Test career with 11,814 runs in 149 Tests.
Among active batters, only Joe Root (12,780), Steve Smith (9,702), Virat Kohli (9,152), and Kane Williamson (9,072) have scored more runs than Mathews in Test cricket.
During his stay at the crease in Gqeberha on Friday, Mathews hammered six fours for Sri Lanka and has added 43 runs from 70 balls so far for the fourth wicket with Kamindu Mendis, who is unbeaten at 30 runs from 38 balls.
