Winning was icing on the cake: Jayawardene

Sri Lanka qualify for semis after beating Australia by 20 runs.

LONDON: For Mahela Jayawardene, Sri Lanka’s qualification for the Champions Trophy semi-final courtesy a 20-run victory over defending champions Australia was ‘the icing on the cake’ that came on the back of his timely record.

The veteran cricketer became the eighth batsman to complete 11,000 One-Day International runs when he reached 62.

“It felt good to get to 11,000 runs, but winning this game was the icing on the cake,” said Jayawardene. “We look forward to another tough match in the semi-final.”

The Sri Lankans relied on aggressive half-centuries from Jayawardene and Lahiru Thirimanne to score 253 for eight. Seamer Nuwan Kulasekara then picked up three wickets as the Australians were bowled out for 233.

The Aussies were 192 for nine when the last-wicket pair of Clint McKay and Xavier Doherty gave Sri Lanka a fright by adding 41 amid mounting tension.

Tillakaratne Dilshan ended the drama with a spectacular return catch to dismiss McKay, who made a career-best 30.

Sri Lanka will now clash with Group B winners India in their semi-final tomorrow.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 19^th, 2013.