adminCape Town – Of all the 19 one-day international centuries Mahela Jayawardene has scored, the one he made yesterday to rescue his side from an potential loss to Afghanistan is arguably the one that could be the most important in his storied career.Jayawardene’s 115 not out against New Zealand in the 2007 World Cup semi-final was on the bigger stage, but his 100 yesterday kept Sri Lanka’s 2015 tournament chances alive.
Afghanistan were within sight of their fourth victory against a top-tier cricketing nation, but first against any team other than Zimbabwe or Bangladesh when he strode to the crease at University Oval in Dunedin.
Instead, the 37-year-old used all of the experience he had accumulated in 442 previous ODIs to see off the fired up Afghanistan bowlers and keep the scoreboard ticking over as he and Angelo Mathews inched them closer to the 233 victory target.
While he fell for exactly 100, and still 55 runs from victory, Thisara Perera blasted 47 runs to see them to 236 for six and a four-wicket victory.
“It was a tough situation. I had to really mentally be very strong all day,” he told reporters in Dunedin. “I could have got out if I was negative and didn’t play my natural game. — Sport 24
Bongani Moyo
Online Reporter