Guyana: Mahela Jayawardene struck a scintillating century as Sri Lanka thumped Zimbabwe by 14 runs via Duckworth-Lewis method in a rain-marred Group B match to brighten their Super Eight stage prospects in the Twenty20 World Cup here on Monday. Rain did not give Zimbabwe even a chance to chase the big target. Zimbabwe were 29-1 in five overs when rained stopped play after the game was reduced to 11 overs with the target reduced to 104. Sri Lanka took two points from the game as Zimbabwe needed to be 43-1 at this stage according to the Dukworth Lewis method.
Mahela Jayawardene's scintillating century powered Sri Lanka to a commanding 173 for seven against Zimbabwe in a Group B match of the Twenty20 World Cup on Monday.
A win is imperative for the 2009 finalists to stay afloat for a Super Eight berth and Jayawardene shepherded the side with a masterly 64-ball 100 -- only the fourth century in the short history of Twenty20 Internationals -- bejewelled with 10 fours and four sixes.
The defeat against New Zealand in the Group B opener had pushed the Lankans to the brink of disaster and there was no way they could underestimate giant-killer Zimbabwe who have humbled Australia and Pakistan in warm-up matches.
Further compounding their crisis today was the news that Muttiah Muraliatharan will miss the remainder of the tournament with a groin injury.
Jayawardene's demeanour, however, betrayed no signs of any trouble whatsoever as the right-hander took the rival attack by the scruff of its neck once Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and decided to set Zimbabwe a total.
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