Birthday special: Mahela Jayawardene – Five best knocks by the Sri Lankan legend
Mahela Jayawardene is a batting colossus. He was the pillar of the Sri Lankan batting line-up for a decade and a half and scored over 10000 runs in Test as well as ODI cricket. The batting legend featured in 149 Tests and 448 ODIs for the Sri Lankan outfit. While he scored 11814 runs in the whites, he plundered 12650 runs in ODIs.
With Jayawardene turning 46 today, let us take a look at the five greatest knocks from the willow of the Sri Lankan in international cricket.
5) 128 vs India (ODIs)
On 27th October 2000, Mahela Jayawardene’s effervescent century helped Sri Lanka comfortably beat the Indian side by 68 runs in the Champions Trophy. Batting first, Sri Lanka were reduced to 25/2, with both Sanath Jayasuriya and Romesh Kaluwitharana back in the pavilion.
But then, the duo of Marvan Atapattu and Mahela Jayawardene resurrected the Sri Lankan innings. They put on a match-winning partnership of 226 runs for the third wicket, as Sri Lanka ended their innings with a total of 294/5 on the board. Jayawardene scored a 123-ball 128 and led from the front with the willow in hand.
In reply, in spite of Sachin Tendulkar’s 61 at the top of the order, India were bowled out for 226, with Muttiah Muralitharan scalping a 7-wicket haul.
4) 144 vs England (ODIs)
In July 2011, Mahela Jayawardene produced a classic at the top of the order at Headingley. Sri Lanka batted first and posted a competitive total of 309/5 on the board. And, the star performer of the Sri Lankan innings was Jayawardene. In an innings studded with 14 fours, the right-hander pummeled 144 off 150 deliveries.
Chasing a target of 310, the England side was bowled out for 240, as Sri Lanka thrashed their opponents by 69 runs. Suranga Lakmal and Suraj Randiv scalped three wickets each with the ball for Sri Lanka. Mahela Jayawardene won the Player of the Match award for his magical knock.
3) 242 vs India (Tests)
In a Test match between India and Sri Lanka in February 1999, Mahela Jayawardene’s dexterity made the Indian bowlers appear clueless. India won the toss and posted a total of 518 runs on the board. In reply, Mahela Jayawardene single-handedly demolished the Indian bowling attack. The right-hander scored a 465-ball 242, and Sri Lanka posted a total of 485.
India ended their second innings with a total of 306/5, with Sachin Tendulkar scoring a sparkling century. The match ended in a draw.
2) 275 vs India (Tests)
In a high scoring Test match between India and Sri Lanka, Mahela Jayawardene produced a ravishing performance with the willow. Batting first, India posted a total of 426 on the board, with Rahul Dravid scoring 177. In reply, Sri Lanka scored a mammoth 760/7, and it was Mahela Jayawardene who made the Indians chase leather.
The batting maestro scored a 435-ball 275. His innings was studded with 27 fours and a six. India ended their 2nd innings with their scorecard reading 412/4, as the match ended in a draw. Gautam Gambhir and Sachin Tendulkar scored centuries for India in the second essay.
1) 374 vs South Africa (Tests)
The best knock from Jayawardene’s willow came in July 2006, against the South African side. Batting first, South Africa were shot out for just 169. Muttiah Muralitharan and Dilhara Fernando scalped 8 wickets between them for Sri Lanka with the ball.
In reply, Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene gave a pounding that the South African bowlers will not forget for a lifetime. Sangakkara and Jayawardene joined forces with Sri Lanka reduced to a total of 14/2. And, the duo put on a mammoth record-shattering partnership of 624 runs for the 3rd wicket. While Sangakkara scored 287, Jayawardene pummeled a 572-ball 374.
Jayawardene scored 43 fours and a six in his knock, as Sri Lanka put on a total of 756/5 on the board. South Africa were bowled out for 434 runs in the second innings, as Sri Lanka thrashed their opponents by an innings and 153 runs. Needless to say, Jayawardene walked away with the Player of the Match award.
