Mathews targets victorious sendoff for Sangakkara

Talk has already begun of how difficult it will be for Sri Lanka to fill the Kumar Sangakkara-shaped hole in their side, but for now there is a Test series on the line, and a successful farewell to be delivered.

Angelo Mathews said the match would be sentimental. Sri Lanka, though, have usually been adept at channeling their emotions, rather than becoming mired in them. Muttiah Muralitharan had a victory in his final Test. Mahela Jayawardene was no different. Sri Lanka's XI is light on experience, but following the stirring victory in Galle, belief will have risen that Sangakkara can be seen off the same way.

If there is one thing Mathews can be relied on, it is keeping both feet on the ground. In Galle, Sri Lanka careened haphazardly to victory, and Mathews has not forgotten that they could have wound up at the bottom of a cliff. The hosts lost five wickets for less than 100 in both innings, and were guilty of dropping three catches, missing another, and failing to collect what seemed an easy run-out. The bowlers emerged with credit, but Tharindu Kaushal will want to cut out his loose deliveries, and the quicks will want to be more penetrative, particularly in the first innings.

"We can improve a lot when it comes to all three departments," Mathews said. "India had us by our throats for two-and-a-half days and the courage and the character the boys showed was unbelievable - to come back within three sessions to win the game. Now we have already shoved that under the carpet and it's history. We've got two more games to go, we've got to play very good cricket to beat India."

Sri Lanka will likely leave their batting order untouched, but their attack has changed almost every match in the last few months, and it will be no different in this game. True to form, Nuwan Pradeep delivered some excellent spells in Galle, then promptly parked himself under an injury cloud. A hamstring niggle will likely keep him out of this match, Mathews said.

In the wings is Dushamantha Chameera - Sri Lanka's stick-thin fast-bowling hope. There were worries he would struggle to find his place in the top attack given his limited first-class experience, but these were unfounded. He has almost immediately begun following in the footsteps of the senior Sri Lanka quicks. Following an encouraging debut against Pakistan, he got himself ruled out through injury, for the following six weeks. The side strain has now adequately healed.

"Unfortunately Chameera got injured when he played his first game against Pakistan," Mathews said. "But he is back, and has got a lot of pace. He bowls 145-plus consistently. He is very exciting, and I'm extremely happy to have him back fit."

There was hope that Sangakkara would push his batting average towards 60 in his last four Tests, but having crossed fifty only once in his six most recent innings, Sangakkara's numbers have headed south in the staggered last gasp of his career. His fans will want a Bradman-equalling double-ton, though the P Sara is one of the tougher batting pitches in the world.

"From what I can see he just wants to score a hundred tomorrow," Mathews said. "He's worked extremely hard and is so determined to do that and we truly wish and hope he does that.

"The best farewell we can give him is to win his last Test. I don't think he expects anything else from us. We are trying our best to do that."