Mahela magic boosts Sri Lanka

Jayawardene hits 100 as Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe

Last updated: 3rd May 2010  

Mahela magic boosts Sri Lanka

Jayawardene: Maiden T20 international century

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A fantastic century from Mahela Jayawardene helped Sri Lanka beat Zimbabwe and take a major step towards the ICC World Twenty20's Super Eight stage.

Jayawardene's 100 - and the Guyanese rain - secured the win as Zimbabwe lost by 14 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method.

Zimbabwe must now win by a wide-margin in the final group game against New Zealand on Tuesday or Sri Lanka will progress in the knock-out phase of the competition alongside the Kiwis.

Opener Jayawardene notched his maiden Twenty20 international hundred from only 63 balls, including 10 fours and four sixes, as Sri Lanka made 173-7 from their 20 overs.

The classy right-hander made everything look outrageously easy but - while Zimbabwe had no answer to Jayawardene - they kept chipping wickets away at the other end.

Mistimed

Fellow opener Tillekeratne Dilshan went for only two when he mistimed a drive at Elton Chigumbura's first delivery to be caught at mid-off.

Twenty20 debutant Thissara Perera contributed 23 in a second-wicket stand of 56 in six overs, hitting some big blows before being caught by Chigumbura at long-on.

Kumar Sangakkara, Dinesh Chandimal and Angelo Mathews were then all out for single figures, the latter falling to a supremely well-judged catch by Craig Ervine on the deep midwicket boundary off Greg Lamb.

But Jayawardene was majestic as he duly became only the fourth batsman to make a Twenty20 international hundred, before eventually being caught at long-on off Ray Price as Sri Lanka easily posted the venue's highest total of the tournament so far.

Rain at Providence then interrupted Zimbabwe's reply after just one over, and they never seriously threatened a revised target of 106 in 11 - eventually losing by 14 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method following another downpour.

Hamilton Masakadza was out to a comical run-out as his side only got as far as 29-1 from five overs before rain had the final say and settled the issue in Sri Lanka's favour.