Angelo Mathews © Getty Images
Angelo Mathews © Getty Images

 

Jul 14, 2014

 

Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews hopes his side will be able to carry on their good run in this year, as they take on South Africa in a two-match home Test series starting on Wednesday. Mathews’s personal form has improved since taking charge of the team last February — and with the ever-dependable Mahela Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara alongside him, the home team are a strong outfit.

 

“We normally do perform well under pressure. It’s just a matter of absorbing it,” said Mathews. “We’ve done pretty well in the past six months and I hope the team will continue to do so,” the 27-year-old added.

 

The hosts will draw confidence from their last outing at home against South Africa in 2006 which saw them win 2-0, including a massive innings-and-153-run victory in the first Test.  Sri Lanka have recalled opener Upul Tharanga in their 15-member squad after six years while South Africa have added two fresh faces in batsman Stiaan van Zyl and off-spinner Dane Piedt, who are both strong candidates to debut.