'We had nothing to lose in the second innings' - Mathews

Angelo Mathews conceded he did not really think Sri Lanka could win at lunch on day three, but suggested the dire match situation unlocked the fearless attitude that won his team the Galle Test. Sri Lanka had been 108 for 5 - still 84 runs adrift of India - when the first session ended on day three. However, a rousing Dinesh Chandimal counterattack and a sublime unbroken fourth-day spell from Rangana Herath sent Sri Lanka hurtling to a 63-run victory.

"We were down and out for the first three and a half days," Mathews said. "With Chandi's innings - it gave us some sort of life to come back into the game. I think sometimes individually and as a team, when we have nothing to lose, you go out and give it your best shot. That's what happened here for us as well. We had to go out there and get 192 runs to draw level with India, but not think about it too much - not think about a big lead. We just wanted a 100-150 lead to give our bowlers a chance at least."