Jayawardene a cut above

In the National, Osman Samiuddin marvels at the ease with which Mahela Jayawardene handled a tricky surface in the World Twenty20 semi-final on which almost every other batsman struggled.

Jayawardene's 42 was a little masterpiece of Twenty20 batting on a fourth day Test match pitch, worth twice, even thrice its actual value. It was the equivalent of a Nasser Hussain special, a man who always found a way on a nasty, spiteful track.

Like Kallis, Jayawardene is one of those who has embraced the format and allowed it to enhance his game, not change it. His attacking base is anyway so sound - and happily, beautiful - that all he has really had to do in Twenty20 is add to his repertoire a medley of reverse shots, namely the pull, the sweep and paddle.