Jayawardene stars with biggest ODI 100 for Sri Lanka

Saturday, 2 July 2011 01:06 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Mahela Jayawardene hit the 15th and biggest hundred of his one-day career as Sri Lanka posted a formidable 309 for five in the second match of the NatWest Series against England at Headingley.

At 1-0 up in the series, home captain Alastair Cook opted to bowl and was promptly rewarded as two of Sri Lanka’s batsmen ran themselves out in thoughtless fashion.

But that merely brought together the vastly-experienced pair of Jayawardene and Kumar Sangakkara, who proceeded to put on 159, with Jayawardene going on to post a new personal best of 144 in 150 balls.

England started tidily, with six runs off the first three overs and, after swiping two boundaries off Tim Bresnan, Tillakaratne Dilshan surrendered his wicket in the tamest way. Taking on Stuart Broad for an unlikely single at mid-on, he was easily run out for nine.

Jayawardene then had a life on seven when he wafted at a wide one from Bresnan and edged high to Graeme Swann at slip, but he grassed the chance. A second edge fell short of Swann as Jayawardene had some early luck.

Broad was brought on for the 10th over and Dinesh Chandimal (five) promptly followed his captain’s lead, James Anderson with the direct hit off another crazy run. That left the tourists 46 for two after the mandatory powerplay, with Jayawardene progressing steadily alongside Sangakkara.

At the midpoint of the innings the score was 117, with Swann unable to find much turn as Cook turned to spin to part the third-wicket pair, who were now rotating the strike with ease.

Sangakkara’s fifth boundary, swept off Kevin Pietersen’s second over, brought up his half-century off 63 deliveries, while Jayawardene breezed into the 90s before reaching his century, scoring nine fours along the way.

Swann eventually ended the stand when he found some big spin to have Sangakkara stumped for 69 on the charge.

Angelo Mathews was promoted to four and he joined Jayawardene in taking full advantage of the batting powerplay. Some modest bowling helped their cause, with Broad, Jade Dernbach and Bresnan all trying and failing to put a lid on the run-rate. Jayawardene’s fine knock was eventually ended as Swann and Craig Kieswetter combined for a second stumping, the batsman having added 16 to his previous highest score of 128. Nuwan Kulasekara holed out to a Bresnan bouncer for a messy 13, but the aggressive Mathews (46 not out) and Jeevan Mendis, who scored the only six of the innings, saw their side past 300.