Povidence (Guyana), May 04: Mahela Jayawardene’s sublime century was too much for Zimbabwe – and the Guyanese rain – as Sri Lanka yesterday set one foot in the World Twenty20’s Super Eight stage. Jayawardene (100) batted beautifully to help Sri Lanka rack up 173 for seven, a score Zimbabwe never looked like threatening, rain or no rain.
The weather at Providence interrupted Zimbabwe’s reply after just one over, and they didn’t get close to a revised target of 106 in 11 – eventually losing by 14 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method following another downpour. Barring a big Zimbabwe victory in the final group game against New Zealand at the same venue tomorrow, Sri Lanka should progress alongside the Kiwis.
Jayawardene raced past his second successive 50 and surged to his maiden hundred in this format – and the second so far in this tournament, following India’s Suresh Raina against South Africa yesterday – with 10 fours and four sixes from 63 balls.
–Agencies