You have to take what God gives you: Mathews

Chattogram, 16 May  - Sri Lanka's senior batter Angelo Mathews as 

expected was disappointed at not getting his second double century but he 
hoped that his big innings will eventually turn out to be the match-winning 
knock in the first Test against Bangladesh.

Mathews missed the double century by one run as he slogged a delivery of 
Nayeem Hasan nervously to square-leg where Shakib Al Hasan completed the 
catch.

He became the 12th batter out on 199 in Test cricket's history and was the 
14th batter to finish on 199. Zimbabwe's Andy Flower and Mathews's compatriot 
Kumar Sangakkara were the two batters who remained not out on 199.

"Obviously it would have been nice to get that one run but you have to take 
what God gives you," Mathews said. 

"I am thankful that I was able to play a good knock. Hopefully it will help 
us win the game."

Mathews admitted that the shot he played was premeditated and rued for not 
connecting well.

"I just premeditated the shot. I didn't connect it. It was one of those 
unfortunate incidents," he added. 

He was indeed philosophical about his dismissal, saying that he couldn't 
control all the things all the time.

"These things happen in cricket. But on the day, you get lucky. On other 
days, you get unlucky. You have to take it as it comes. Cricket is such that 
you bowl badly, you get wickets; you bowl well, you don't get wickets. 
Likewise for the batters: you play well and you still get out. You have to 
take what cricket offers you," he remarked.

"Getting that one run off the last ball with the last man, I wanted to get to 
the double-hundred. I miscalculated it, and unfortunately, Shakib caught it. 
It would have been nice to get that one run but again, cricket."