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D.P.M.D. Jayawardene

119

D.P.M.D. Jayawardene 199 v EnglandBack to boards

Mahela Jayawardene’s superb rear guard century helped Sri Lanka pull off a great escape at Lord’s in 2006, with his patient 119 inspiring his side to what looked like an unlikely draw against England.

When they followed on, at lunch on the third day, the Sri Lankans were 359 behind but they survived 199 overs, and three new balls, to defy the England attack.

Centuries from Marcus Trescothick and Kevin Pietersen had seen England rack up a mammoth 551 for 6 declared. Things were seemingly going well for the hosts, as they bowled out Sri Lanka for 192, Jayawardene top scoring with 61.

However the visitors made a much better fist of things in their second innings. Upul Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara put on 109 for the second wicket before skipper Jayawardene forged a stand of 59 with the latter.

He batted for more than six hours for his 119, and with seven batsman scoring half-centuries for only the third time in Test history, Sri Lanka pulled off the unlikely heist of a draw.

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