Sunday, November 23, 2008

Cricketing legend ready to hit Durban curries for a six | Jayasuriya in South Africa

Sri Lankan cricketing legend Sanath Jayasuriya, who recently joined the Nashua Dolphins as an opening batsman, is looking forward to sampling Durban’s famous bunny chow.

The 39-year-old left-hander , who is contracted to play for the Dolphins until February next year, said he had not yet had time to explore the city but was eager to tuck into the local cuisine.

Jayasuriya, rated among the world’s top batsmen, said he was confident that he could handle Durban’s spicy curries.

“I eat spicy food at home, so I’m sure I can handle the curry here,” he said.

He compared Durban to his home town of Colombo, saying the two cities were similar.

“Both cities are situated on the coastline, the climate is very similar and the people are very friendly.”

He will soon be joined by his wife and three children.

“It is difficult for them to join me now, but as soon as the school term is over, they will come.”

He said that after the Dolphins’ defeat by the Eagles and the Highveld Lions, they planned to up their game against the Titans on Wednesday.

He will not be part of the Dolphins’ Champions League squad for the forthcoming fixtures in India because of his contract with the Indian Premier League’s Mumbai Indians.

The Dolphins will be leaving for Bangalore next month to take part in the Champions League T20 with the Free State Eagles. They will play against the finalists from the Indian Premier League and Australia.

Jayasuriya joined Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar at the crease as teammates of the Mumbai Indians in the Indian Premier League. “That was a very good experience for me. It was the match against the Chennai Super Kings, and I had the opportunity to bat with one of the best batsmen of our time. We batted well and scored runs. It was a good game.”

The Times :
Nov 23, 2008

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

FlashBack | Jayasuriya slaughters India as Lankan tigers roar back | 151* vs India

MUMBAI, May 17



India 225-7 in 50 overs

Sri Lanka 229-5 in 40.5 overs

Sanat Jayasuriya's pyrotechnics turned India's midsummer dreams into a nightmare today. The fizz from the Pepsi Independence Cup One-Day International (ODI) between India and Sri Lanka evaporated in a jiffy as Jayasuriya's heroics reduced the match into a no-contest. The Saturday night cricket fever was an unalloyed disappointment for the jingoistic home crowd, many of who had come with the tricolour painted in various parts of their anatomy in celebratory anticipation.

With the result a long foregone conclusion, the Wankhede Stadium looked half empty by the time the last rites of the mismatch was completed. The Lankan victory with 9.1 overs, five wickets and plenty of time and talent unused placed the World Cup champions' prowess in proper perspective.

The Indian annihilation also simplified things in the remaining matches with all four teams in the fray with a won-one, lost-one record, the winners of the match between New Zealand and Lanka at Hyderabad and the one between India and Pakistan at Chennai will decide the finalists for the championship.

The Lankans reacted like a cornered tigers in the do-or-die situation for them. And none exemplified the predatory instinct better than the genius of Jayasuriya, whose fourth ODI century an unbeaten 151 was the highest ever by a Lankan in this class of cricket.

The man of the Wills World Cup championship gave brilliant expression of his wide repertoire of willow brilliance. Even the early dismissal of his opening partner Romesh Kaluwitharana playing Abey Kuruvilla away from his body and edging into slip did not shackle him. Right from ball one he stamped his ascendancy and the manner in which he mauled India's key bowler Venkatesh Prasad upset India's limited options. Prasad went for 34 runs in his first spell of four overs and India never recovered from that.

Maravan Attapattu gave classy support at the other end. Like Rahul Dravid in the India innings, Attapattu proved that there is place for orthodoxy and classicism in the abridged form of cricket, provided the methods are gainfully employed.

Attapattu, in the context of the second wicket association, was a sleeping partner. He contributed just 38 in the stand of 138 in 23.5 overs. But his was a worth only paled in comparison.

By the halfway stage, Lanka were 146 for one and the flutter of quick wickets in the form of Attapattu and Aravinda and later that of Arjuna Ranatunga and Hashan Tillekeratne were artificial excitements in the Indian ranks, whose body language was a dead give away of the prevailing situation.

In the end, Jayasuriya returned like an one-man triumphant army. His unbeaten knock of 151 a virtual solo diminishment act. His classy innings was studded with four sixes three off left-arm Sunil Joshi and one off Prasad besides 17 boundaries.

Earlier, India rallied from the brink of an impending disaster to put up a fighting total. It was the cerebral opportunism of Dravid, the expertise of Ajay Jadeja in crisis management and the firepower of Robin Singh which served as principal ingredients in the Indian fightback.

Jadeja walked in with the Indian scoreboard reading 29 for three after Saurav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar and Vinod Kambli gift-wrapped their wickets in a dubious show of traditional Indian hospitality.

Ganguly was gone first ball, bowled through the gate playing a tentative push to Chaminda Vaas. Sanjeeva de Silva then made hay while his luck shone. He first had Tendulkar slashing into third man's hands and then Kambli fell in the trap laid for him, picking the man at short mid-wicket, waiting in anticipation for the error of judgment in strokeplay.

Skipper Ranatunga marshalled his resources intelligently and he received excellent support from his bowlers Vaas, who bowled a robotic-precision first spell of 6-3-6-1 and Kumara Dharmasena, whose opening spell read 7-2-16-2.

Sanjeeva, however, tended to err in length and came in for some punishment from Dravid. The Karnataka batsman was circumspect, but did not let the scoring opportunities go by. Jadeja, on the other hand, curbed his natural aggressive tendencies and played the support role to perfection.

It was not until the 30th over that Jadeja switched gears. His first boundary was not convincing an intended drive taking the edge and going to the vacant third man fence. But Jadeja had tasted blood. He lofted Aravinda over mid-off and flicked him over midwicket. He then trained his sights on Jayasuriya as the tempo of the Indian innings picked up.

The partnership was worth 95 priceless runs in 21.5 overs when Dravid made an all too familiar mistake giving room to cut a ball spinning into him and getting bowled. It was a gem of an innings and was another proof why is rated as India's best batsman after Tendulkar. Mr Consistent score 61 (103b) with six off his eight fours milked of Sanjeeva.

Robin stepped into the breach and provided a rare display of his batting worth in the highest class of cricket. Robin had recorded a half-century in 18 ODI and this was as fine an opportunity as any that he would have got.

Taking over the role of aggressor, he steered and swept Dharmasena for fours, swung Muttiah Muralitharan and then slammed Jayasuriya to the mid-wicket fence and followed it up by hoisting him over the same region for six.

The 50 for the fifth wicket was realised in 9.1 overs and the run rate it would be more appropriate to dub it desperate did not touch the four per over mark till the 42nd over .

The stand was worth 58 in 10.2 overs when Jadeja was bowled by Jayasuriya. for 72 (102b, 4x4, 1x6). Jadeja, it may be recalled, scored 43 not out in 42 balls in the Titan Cup final and 54 not out in 44 balls in the Mohinder Amarnath Benefit ODIs (both in Mumbai) to play important parts in India's victories. But today it was an effort in vain.

Nayan Mongia joined in the run and frolic at the end, scoring 21 in 17 balls (1x6, 1x4) as India plundered 67 runs between the 42nd and 49th overs the last over yielded just one run with Anil Kumble faced four balls without scoring before finally getting out to the last ball.

Robin, who added 42 with Mongia in 5.1 overs, duly scored his first half century in ODIs (51: 52b, 4x4, 1x6) which enabled India set Lanka a target of 226 at an asking rate of 4.52 per over.

India, for whom little went right after winning the toss, have much to reflect from this loss. Not the least, the pressure on Tendulkar as skipper. He clearly erred in underbowling his best bowler Kuruvilla, whose final analysis of 7-1-22-2 reflects his economy and productivity in the mayhem.

It would be a pity if India fail to make it to the final of a championship that is in celebration of its 50th year of Independence. SCOREBOARD INDIA: Saurav Ganguly b Vaas 0 (1b), Sachin Tendulkar c Dharamasena b Sajeewa de Silva 2 (4b, 19m), Rahul Dravid b Muralitharan 61 (103b, 135m, 8x4), Vinod Kambli c Tillekeratne b Sajeewa de Silva 4 (19b, 38m), Ajay Jadeja b Jayasuriya 72 (102b, 129m, 4x4, 1x6), Robin Singh b Sajeewa de Silva 51 (52b, 74m, 4x4, 1x6), Nayan Mongia not out 21 (17b, 30m, 1x4, 1x6), Anil Kumble c Muralitharan b Vaas 0 (4b, 5m). Extras (lb-6, w-7, nb-1) 14; Total: (for seven wickets in 50 overs): 225

Fall of wickets: 1-0 (Ganguly, 0.1 overs); 2-4 (Tendulkar, 3.3); 3-29 (Kambli, 11.3); 4-124 (Dravid, 33.2); 5-182 (Jadeja, 43.5); 6-224 (Robin, 49); 7-225 (Kumble, 50)

Bowling: Vaas 10-3-13-2, Sajeeva de Silva 10-0-59-3 (3 w, 1 nb), Muralitharan 10-0-37-1 (2 w), Dharamasena 10-2-38-0, Jayasuriya 8-0-55-1 (2 w), Aravinda 2-0-17-0

SRI LANKA: Sanath Jayasuriya not out 151 (121b, 189m, 17x4, 4x6), Romesh Kaluwitharana c Tendulkar b Kuruvilla 0 (2b, 1m), Marvavan Atapattu run out (Joshi) 38 (68b, 107m, 4x4), Aravinda de Silva lbw Kumble 0 (1b, 3m), Arjuna Ranatunga c sub (Khoda) b Kumble 17 (30b, 40m, 1x4, 1x6), Hashan Tillekeratne c Mongia b Kuruvilla 6 (19b, 23m), Roshan Mahanama not out 4 (6b, 6m, 1x4). Extras (b-4, lb-2, w-7): 13. Total (in 40.5 overs; 189 minutes for five wickets): 229.

Fall of wickets: 1-8 (Kaluwitharana, 1.2 overs); 2-146 (Attapattu, 25.1); 3-151 (Aravinda, 25.5); 4-194 (Ranatunga; 33.5), 5-220 (Tillekeratne; 39.3).

Bowling: Prasad 10-1-57-0 (3w), Kuruvilla 7-1-22-2, Kumble 10-0-55-2 (2w), Joshi 9.5-0-56-0, Robin 2-0-20-0, Tendulkar 2-0-13-0 (2w).

Result: Sri Lanka won by five wickets. Man of the match: Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka).

Sanath Jayasuriya & Kumar Sangakkara| Kookaburra Sports Wallpaper



Found this beauty on the Kookaburra (Pronounced Cook-uh-bar-ra) website both Sanath and Kumar have endorsed Kookaburra's range of products throughout their illustrious careers.









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Images courtesy Kookaburra

Sanath Jayasuriya Wallpapers | Part 2








Saturday, November 15, 2008

Family Pics | Sanath Jayasuriya with his Wife Sandra & Children



Sanath Jayasuriya & family with Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapaksha during the Golden Awards ceremony, Jan 2nd 2009.








Sanath, Sandra and children Keshini, Yalindi and Ranuk


Staying home with the kids: Sanath’s wife Sandra




My hero: Sanath’s eldest daughter is all smiles



A fatherly tap……
Sanath lovingly taps his still unnamed son at the Joseph Frazer hospital bed along with his wife Sandra and daughter Keshani


Sanath & Family with Fans in a Hotel ( Thanks to sri rangani Srilanka )

Sanath & Sandra Jayasuriya with Kids in a B'Day Party



Also see :-->
Sandra Talks about life with Sanath Jayasuriya


Sanath Jayasuriya Arrives in South Africa | Nashua Dolphins

Friday, 14 November 2008


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Sanath Jayasuriya landed on South African soil yesterday 13 November at OR Thambo Airport to a hearty welcome by the Nashua Dolphin team and management.


He was immediately whisked away to his first match for the Dolphins in the MTN Domestic Championship game in Potchefstroom against the bizhub Highveld Lions taking place today.


Happy to be finally be here, and looking forward to playing on South African soil, Sanath seemed relaxed and ready for an intense season of cricket with the Nashua Dolphins.


Friday, November 14, 2008

Jayasuriya to light up Potchefstroom | Dolphins

Sri Lankan maestro will spice up the local one-day series

NATURAL BORN HITTER: Sri Lanka’s Sanath Jayasuriya will make his debut for the Dolphins in the domestic one-day series against the Lions in Potchefstroom

CRICKET fans have one compelling reason to follow the domestic limited-overs championship: Sanath Jayasuriya.

The Sri Lankan legend, who has scored a staggering 12875 runs in one-day internationals in a career spanning 421 matches, has joined the Dolphins for the season and has been included in the squad to play the Lions in Potchefstroom today .

Forming part of a formidable batting order that includes HDAckerman, captain Ahmed Amla and Jon Kent, Jayasuriya provides an attacking dimension that cannot be matched by any other domestic opening batsmen.

His canny slow left-armers might also prove vital to a Dolphin attack that has so far not once taken 20 wickets in any of the side’s first-class matches.

Their opponents will be without their captain, Neil McKenzie, who was suspended after showing dissent in last week’s round of first-class matches, and Andre Nel is still struggling with a knee injury.

Though the Lions’ batting has stroke makers such as Alviro Petersen, Stephen Cook and Vaughn van Jaarsveld, the bowling looks vulnerable, with Garnett Kruger the only bowler of proved class.

The defending champions, the Titans, who are away to the Eagles in Bloemfontein, should be regarded as favourites for the match, if not for the tournament. Their talented batting line-up is matched by an enterprising and potent bowling attack that includes three spinners: Roelof van der Merwe, Paul Harris and Imran Tahir.

It is perhaps their opponents on Sunday, the Warriors, who are the biggest threat to their supremacy.

The Eastern Cape men have arguably the best one-day bowling attack in the country, which includes South Africa under-19 captain Wayne Parnell, record-breaker Juan “Rusty” Theron, and spinners Robin Peterson and Johan Botha. Captain Davey Jacobs, who in 2004-2005 scored a hundred off 79 balls for the Eagles, is South Africa’s nearest equivalent to Jayasuriya.

It would, however, be foolhardy to discount the Eagles. The Free Staters are the only team to have won two titles since the formation of the franchises.

Veterans Boeta Dippenaar, Loots Bosman and Morne van Wyk will anchor the batting, and Ryan McLaren will spearhead the bowling. Spinner Con de Lange was the leading wicket taker in 2006-2007.


Sanath Jayasuriya gives Dolphins a huge boost


THE mere presence of legendary Sri Lankan Sanath Jayasuriya in the Dolphins line-up is set to reinvigorate them for their opening MTN Domestic Championship match against the Highveld Lions in Potchefstroom today.

The Dolphins have recently completed a disappointing first half of the SuperSport Series, ending last on the table, and the 45-over format represents a fresh chance to get on the winning trail.

With 421 one-day internationals behind his name (12 875 runs and 310 wickets), the 39-year-old Jayasuriya should add a major thrust to the Dolphins squad and with the experienced HD Ackerman back from suspension and key all-rounder Johann Louw surplus to South Africa’s Test requirements, the Dolphins pose a danger to the home side.


Imraan Khan and skipper Ahmed Amla have shown good form with the bat and a winning start will be just the tonic the Dolphins need, although the KZN side’s bowling attack has been their Achilles heel this season.

Lions skipper Alviro Petersen carries a big responsibility at the top of the order and he will need strong support from the likes of Stephen Cook, Vaughn van Jaarsveld and the promising Jonathan Vandiar.


Neil McKenzie won’t feature in this televised match (SuperSport 2 and CSN from 4 pm) as he is serving a two-match ban for dissent.

A further incentive for the Dolphins is the inaugural edition of the Champions League Twenty20 to be played in Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai from December 3 to 10.


The Dolphins and Northern Titans qualified after fighting their way into the finals of the Standard Bank Pro20 series last season.

The Dolphins leave for India in two weeks’ time and their first round-robin encounter is against India’s Rajastan Royals on Wednesday, December 3.


But for the moment at least, the Dolphins must keep their eye on the ball tonight in Potchefstroom, as they need to savour the taste of victory before heading on the path to the biggest prizes in provincial cricket’s history.

TEAMS

Highveld Lions: Alviro Petersen (capt), Craig Alexander, Richard Cameron, Werner Coetsee, Stephen Cook, Cliffie Deacon, Christiaan Jonker, Garnett Kruger, Jean Symes, Jonathan Vandiar, Vaughn van Jaarsveld, Dane Vilas.

KZN Dolphins: Ahmed Amla (capt), Imraan Khan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Grant Rowley, HD Ackerman, Jon Kent, Pierre de Bruyn, Daryn Smit, Johann Louw, Saidi Mlongo, Yusuf Abdullah, Quinton Friend.
TV: live of SuperSport 2 and CSN from 4 pm.

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

Troubling Jayasuriya by Lalchand Rajput | IPL Flash Back


If there's one seat that gets you the best view of the action, it is the place right near the boundary ropes. This area is occupied by the ball boys who return the ball back to players once it crosses the boundary so that play can resume without much wastage of time. Ball boys are generally budding cricketers and are chosen from local coaching camps.

While most ball boys are satisfied with autographs and photographs, we spotted one eager player Lalchand - a nets bowler for the Mumbai Indians who was making most of the opportunity.

Dwyane Bravo (L) and Sanath Jayasuriya (C) hold key to the fortunes of buoyant Mumbai Indians when they clash with Rajasthan Royals in the T20 IPL match at the D Y Patil Stadium in Mumbai


The young pacer saw his fortune catapult at the prospect of bowling to one of the most destructive batsmen in the world - Sanath Jayasuriya.
"I could not believe my eyes when Sanath Jayasuriya stepped on the practice pitch where I was supposed to bowl," says Lalchand animatedly. And was he nervous at any time? "Yeah I was, initially but started with some good length deliveries and he was effortlessly creaming me with his drives." Lalchand later reveals the biggest moment of his life. I decided to surprise him and bowled a short one. It bounced considerably and hit him on his chin. He never expected it from a nets bowler like me." The Matara Mauler has spared no bowler the world over and this must have hurt his ego if not his chin though. "Yes, the next ball I bowled to him disappeared in the stands," the cheeky bowler says with a grin on his face. He also had a brief interaction with Shaun Pollock who passed on some of his tricks which he mastered over the years to the youngster. "I could only swing the ball one way, he taught me to do it both ways." Lalchand could not have chosen a better venue to implement what he had just learned. "The next day, were the selection trials for Mumbai U/19 team and I decided to try that out. It came good and I am hoping to get picked for Mumbai." If this wasn't enough, he somehow made it to Sachin's nets the next day where the master blaster was busy setting up the bowling machine. "I completely froze when I saw Sachin next to me. There were just three of us - Sachin, Rajput sir and me. I was gathering the balls and handing them over to Rajput sir who in turn was putting them in the bowling machine." This is indeed a special moment as Sachin, who still follows conventional training methods seldom practises with the bowling machine. Lalchand signs off by saying that all this is done to get into the Mumbai Indians team for the next season and one person who can make it possible is the one with whom he shares his name, Lalchand Rajput, the coach of Mumbai Indians.

Master blaster Sanath Jayasuriya to lift KZN Dolphins


THE Dolphins, after slipping to last on the SuperSport Series log this past weekend following five forgettable draws in five outings, receive a timely boost today with the arrival in Durban of Sri Lankan master blaster, Sanath Jayasuriya. And the former Sri Lanka captain was immediately included in the KZN franchise’s side for their opening MTN 45-over match against the Highveld Lions in Potchefstroom on Friday. The 39-year-old Jayasuriya was honing his renowned big-hitting skills at the Hong Kong Sixes over the weekend and will need to play a key role in uplifting the intensity of the Dolphins’ game. He has played a world record 421 one-day internationals for Sri Lanka, scoring 12 785 runs in the process with 27 hundreds and 66 half centuries to his name. Only India’s “little genius” Sachin Tendulkar is in the running to break that record and could well do so once his country’s impending seven ODIs against England are over. Jayasuriya, however, has still not hung up his bat for his country’s one-day side, so his personal duel with Tendulkar is not over. A 1996 World Cup winner with Sri Lanka when they beat Australia in the final in Pakistan, Jayasuriya is also a useful left-arm spinner with 310 ODI wickets behind him, and his presence could well put paid to Morn´e van Vuuren’s chances of making the Dolphins’ limited-over side this season, as the man regarded as one of the best one-day players in history is also contracted for the Standard Bank Pro20 Series that follows the crowded MTN schedule in late January. SS SERIES STANDINGS (halfway stage): 1. Northern Titans 54,62 points; 2 Free State Eagles 49,92 pts; 3 East Cape Warriors 42,24 pts; 4 Highveld Lions 39,22 pts; 5 West Cape Cobras 29,52 pts; 6 KZN Dolphins 26,54 pts. KZN Dolphins: Ahmed Amla (capt), Imraan Khan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Grant Rowley, HD Ackerman, Jon Kent, Pierre de Bruyn, Daryn Smit, Johann Louw, Saidi Mlongo, Yusuf Abdullah, Quinton Friend. KZN Coastal - to meet Boland in Paarl: Darren Govender, Myren Pillay, David Miller, Martin Bekker, Sarel Erwee, Greg Fotheringham, Bradley Barnes, Keshav Maharaj, Vyash Gobind, Ugasen Govender, Emanuel Mkhize, Craig Woods.

Sanath Jayasuriya - New Dolphins signing heads for SA


Sri Lanka star Sanath Jayasuriya arrives in South Africa on Thursday, and will join up with the Dolphins squad for their opening MTN Domestic Championship match against the Lions at Senwes Park, in Potchefstroom, on Friday. Dolphins supporters will have their first opportunity to see Jayasuriya in action at Kingsmead next Wednesday, November 19, when the Durban-based franchise take on the Eagles. The domestic scene will be dominated by limited-overs cricket from now until the end of February, beginning with the 45-over format (November 14-January 16) and then the Standard Bank Pro20 competition (January 21-February 20), before the completion of the SuperSport Series. Meanwhile, a 12-man squad for the Lions match was announced yesterday afternoon. It is a powerful, well-balanced team with H D Ackerman returning from his three-match ban, while Johann Louw is back in the franchise fold after playing for the Proteas in the limited-overs series against Bangladesh. Despite a disappointing run of form in the SuperSport Series, big-hitting Grant Rowley keeps his place in the team for Friday's match. He has been preferred to David Miller, who will play for the Amateur team in the South African Airways Provincial Challenge matches against Boland in Paarl this weekend. The selectors have chosen four specialist pacemen in the squad - Louw, Yusuf Abdullah, Saidi Mlongo and Quinton Friend - with Jon Kent and Pierre de Bruyn providing back-up. The Dolphins will also have the option of using the left-arm spin of Jayasuriya and the right-arm wrist-spin of Daryn Smit. The Dolphins played a practice match at Kingsmead on Friday night. Bowling all-rounder Alfonso Thomas, who is contracted to the Dolphins for limited-overs cricket only this season, is getting married in England next week and will miss the first two matches. Dolphins (v Lions on Friday): Sanath Jayasuriya, Imraan Khan, H D Ackerman, Ahmed Amla (capt), Grant Rowley, Jon Kent, Pierre de Bruyn, Daryn Smit (w/k), Johann Louw, Quinton Friend, Saidi Mlongo, Yusuf Abdullah. KZN Amateur team (for 3- and 1-day matches v Boland on Nov 13-16): Darren Govender, Myren Pillay, David Miller, Martin Bekker (capt), Sarel Erwee, Greg Fotheringham, Bradley Barnes (w/k), Keshav Maharaj, Vyash Gobind, Ugasen Govender, Emannuel Mkhize, Craig Woods.

Monday, November 10, 2008

FlashBack | Sanath Jayasuriya's Double century at The Oval - Sri Lanka's first Test Victory Against England





WORLD Cup winner Sanath Jayasuriya came back to haunt England once again and pound Alec Stewart's side into The Oval dust.
Jayasuriya has made a habit of giving England a miserable time and it was the same old story as Sri Lanka eased into command on the third day of the one-off Cornhill Test.

By the close they had raced past England's total, with seven wickets still standing - England having been blasted for 367 runs in the day while taking just two wickets.

Five years ago Jayasuriya smashed Phil Tufnell for six in Colombo to give Sir Lanka their first Test win over England and in 1995 he hammered 82 off just 44 balls to send us crashing to a dismal World Cup quarter- final defeat.

And by the time Jayasuriya reached a faultless double century just before tea, England's exhausted attack would have been understandably sick of the sight of the little left-hander.

Only a year ago Jayasuriya broke down in tears after narrowly failing to beat Brian Lara's Test record score of 375.

He couldn't believe that he had missed out after reaching 340 against India . . . but this time the powerful opener clearly set his stall out to make another massive score.

Backed by Aravinda de Silva, Jayasuriya hammered away at England's bowlers to lead the way as the pair set a new third- wicket record for Sri Lanka.

Yet England's day had started well enough. Resuming at 79 for one overnight, Sri Lanka soon lost No 3 Mahela Jayawardene for only nine.
He aimed a loose drive at a wide delivery from Angus Fraser to give Ben Hollioake a head-high catch in the gully.

That brought in de Silva and he was away almost at once, straight driving Fraser to the boundary. In the next over Jayasuriya sweetly timed another boundary off Darren Gough before flicking him for four through long-leg to bring up the hundred.

Then de Silva flicked another boundary to become the first Sri Lankan to pass 5,000 runs in Test cricket. The first hour's play had yielded 64 runs and it got no better as Jayasuriya hammered Cork to the ropes to take him to 98.
A few moments later he duly reached his fifth Test hundred - made from just 124 deliveries and including 17 fours.

Fraser's return couldn't stem the flood of runs and a hooked four by de Silva registered the hundred stand in only 119 balls to take the Sri Lankans into lunch at 192 for two.

After the interval, Jayasuriya took over to race away from de Silva and he piled the pressure on England and, in particular, struggling leg-spinner Ian Salisbury.

Cork could do little right when he came back for another spell. His first ball was punched over square leg, the next stroked through the covers before Jayasuriya picked up a wayward leg-side ball to hit him into the crowd and reach his 150.

De Silva was clearly happy to play a sensible anchor role as Sri Lanka ground on towards a mammoth total that would give their spinners something to bowl at on the final day. Jayasuriya was clearly enjoying himself and a deft sweep for four off Mark Ramprakash brought up the 200 partnership.
Jayasuriya - who was once dismissed for 199 in a Test against India - didn't make the same mistake again and when he worked a single off Fraser he raised his arms aloft to celebrate a brilliant double ton.

With 31 fours and one six, it came off only 254 balls - the sixth fastest double century in Test history.

Just before tea, England's tired players thought they had got him at last on 202 as he wafted at Fraser, but Shepherd turned down appeals for a catch behind by Stewart.But Stewart finally got his man as he edged down the leg side off Hollioake to go for 213 after 346 minutes and 33 fours.
But England's misery continued in the last session as de Silva deservedly eased past his century - that "Dream Team" attack from Headingley having a complete nightmare.

Afterwards England coach David Lloyd criticised a pitch which has yielded almost 900 runs for 13 wickets.
"I have been disappointed by the surface," he said. "We would have preferred a pitch with pace, some bounce and a little movement.""
Asked if England captain Alec Stewart echoed his sentiments, Lloyd replied:""Yes, that would be fair.""

Jayasuriya was modest about his fifth Test century, the first double century made in a Test match at The Oval since Pakistan's Javed Miandad struck 260 11 years ago.

He denied he was chasing Brian Lara's world Test record individual score of 374, claiming: "I never go for records - I always play for the team."

SCOREBOARD
-------------------------
England v Sri Lanka
ENGLAND - First Innings
James c & b Muralitharan 36
Butcher c Jayas'a b Wick'inghe 10
Hick c Kaluw'na b Wick'inghe 107
Stewart c Tillakaratne b Perera 2
Ramprakash c Jay'w'e b Mura'n 53
Crawley not out 156
B Hollioake c Atap'tu b Mura'n 14
Cork b Muralitharan 6
Salisbury b Muralitharan 2
Gough c Kaluw'na b Muralith'n 4
Fraser b Muralitharan 32
Extras (b1,lb11,w2,nb9) 23
Total (158.3 ovs) 445
Bowling: Wickramasinghe 30-4-81-2, Perera 40-10-104-1, Dharmasena 18- 3-55-0, Muralitharan 59.3-14-155-7, Jayasuriya 11-0-38-0.
SRI LANKA - First Innings
(Overnight 79-1)
Jayasuriya c Stewart b Hollioake 213
Atapattu lbw b Cork 15
Jayawardene c Hollioake b Fraser 9
de Silva not out 125
Ranatunga not out 50
Extras (b14, lb16, nb4) 34
Total (3 wkts, 110 ovs) 446
Fall: 1-53, 2-85, 3-328

(Sunday Mirror, Aug 30, 1998)

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