Dilshan signs for two Derbyshire stints

Tillakaratne Dilshan has become the latest Sri Lanka batsman to secure a deal in county cricket after signing for Derbyshire.

His English season will be come in two spells, the first in June when he replaces Martin Guptill and then again in August and September following the Caribbean Premier League. When he returns for the second period he will be available for all Derbyshire's matches until the end of the season. Sri Lanka have no limited-overs matches currently scheduled during the English summer that would see Dilshan needed for international duty.

He has been one of the stand-out batsmen at the World Cup with 395 runs at 79.00 by the end of the group stage. He has also indicated that he has no retirement plans with a desire to play for another two or three years and perhaps as far as the 2019 World Cup in England.

"Derbyshire are an ambitious club with an exciting young team and I'm looking forward to joining them in the NatWest T20 Blast and then returning to help them finish the season strongly," Dilshan said. "I am really pleased with my current form and this makes me confident I can make a strong contribution to Derbyshire this season."

Graeme Welch, Derbyshire's elite performance director, said: "Dilshan is a proven match winner who has shown this time and time again on the world stage. His record speaks for itself and he brings a wealth of experience across all formats and to the dressing room. He is also committed to helping our younger lads during his stay."

Dilshan will join Kumar Sangakkara (Surrey) and Mahela Jayawardene (Sussex) in the English domestic game for 2015.