Mahela Jayawardene - Celebrates hundred against Windies in 1st Test at Providence

GEORGETOWN, Guyana, CMC – After missing out on a century in his first Test against West Indies seven years ago, Sri Lanka’s captain Mahela Jayawardene was delighted over finally reaching the milestone on the second day of the first Digicel Test at the Guyana National Stadium on Sunday.

 

When Jayawardene completed his hundred half-hour before tea, he jubilantly punched the air to celebrate his achievement that helped Sri Lanka gain the upper hand in the match.

 

“It means a lot. I missed a hundred against West Indies in Colombo. I was run out for 99. Getting that was a big one, especially away from home,” Jayawardene told reporters at the end of the day.

 

“For me, every hundred is a big one, so I celebrate like that.”

 

His 136 lifted Sri Lanka to 476 for eight declared and by the close, West Indies were 29 for one.

 

It was Jayawardene’s 22nd Test century, which pushed his aggregate to 7,407 runs, the most by any Sri Lankan.

 

“When you play for ten years, you tend to learn a few things and try and add them to your game. You focus a bit more,” Jayawardene said.

 

“When you mature, you know your mistakes and try and not to make those mistakes, develop a game plan that will suit your strengths and weaknesses.

 

“The more cricket you play, you tend to learn a few things. I’m in that mode where I’m still trying to learn and trying to challenge myself to be a better cricketer.”

 

After dominating the first two days, Sri Lanka are in the position in which they can apply pressure and try to force a victory over the remaining three days.

 

Jayawardene is of the view, however, that it is too early to say if an outright result can be achieved.

 

“We’ve got the advantage. We’ve done all the hard work. It’s in our hands to make sure we keep putting pressure on the West Indies batters. They have to make sure they bat for at least two days,” he said.

 

“We are in a very good position, probably in a position that we cannot lose this Test match from. We just need to make sure that we push for a result,” the Sri Lanka skipper added.

 

CMC nl/lw/08