Mahela betters Bradman’s record
by Dinesh Weerawansa
 Sir Donald Bradman was a
cricketing legend who had achieved many great milestones as the greatest
batsman ever in international cricket. When Sri Lanka gained full ICC
membership and played the inaugural Test at the Sara Stadium in 1982, no
one thought that we too could produce a great batsman who could surpass
Bradman’s long-standing records.
But Sri Lanka Test bastman and former captain Mahela Jayawardena
achieved this memorable feat during the recent Second Test against India
at SSC grounds. He made a marathon knock of 174 - his 28th century in
Test cricket.
More importantly, that superb innings enabled him to break Sir Don
Bradman’s world record for the most number of Test centuries at a single
venue. Mahela bettered that and accounted for that rare and unique feat
at the Mecca of Sri Lanka cricket - the Sinhalese Sports Club grounds (SSC).
It was his home club wicket and the former Lankan skipper is familiar
with every inch of that track and how it plays and that helped him to
post his record tenth ton. In doing so, Mahela had the honour of beating
Bradman’s records of nine centuries at the Melbourne Cricket Club (MCG)
grounds.
Apart from dumping Bradman’s record, Mahela Jayawardena, along with
his skipper Kumar Sangakkara, robbed another local record held by
veterans Arjuna Ranatunga and Aravinda De Silva, incidentally the
present Chairman of Selectors. During their day, there had been 12
Ranatunga-De Silva partnerships but Tuesday’s 197-run alliance for the
third wicket between Sangakkara and Jayawardena was their 12th century
partnership in Test Cricket.
Incidentally, Mahela made his Test debut in the match in which Sri
Lanka posted the highest ever Test total - 952 for 6 - against India at
the Premadasa Stadium.
He did that in style with a half century (66) on his debut. In 112
Tests, he has so far aggregated 9.347 runs at an attractive average of
52.85 with 28 centuries and 35 fifties. He could well pocket a few more
world records before he hangs up his boots. |
