Jayawardene century eases selection concerns

Mahela Jayawardene sprang back into form with a brilliant hundred in a two-day warm-up match against New Zealand on Saturday, guaranteeing himself selection for the first test starting on April 25.

Jayawardene, dropped from the one-day side after a disastrous World Cup, caressed a chanceless 108 from 137 balls hitting 15 fours and two straight sixes as the Sri Lanka Board President's XI scored 258 in their first innings.

New Zealand openers Matthew Horne (38*) and Matthew Richardson (27*) then eased the visitors to a comfortable 74 without loss at stumps on day one.

Batting at number four, Jayawardene helped rescue the President's XI, who soon slumped to 35 for three after winning the toss and batting first, adding 131 runs for the fourth wicket with Romesh Kaluwitharana.

The 25-year-old right-hander looked a completely assured at the crease, seizing upon any opportunity to score on a slow pitch and middling the ball throughout.

He reached his hundred with a paddle sweep and acknowledged a decent weekend crowd with a neat wave of his bat, no doubt relieved to have ended any debate over the wisdom of his inclusion in the test side.

The Sri Lankan selectors, who are due to announce the squad on Monday night, now just have to mull over three troublesome positions: the wicket-keeper, second spinner and final batsman.

Kaluwitharana, the skipper, certainly increased his chances of claiming a place with a workmanlike 55 from 98 balls before being trapped lbw by seamer Darryl Tuffey.

Tuffey proved to be the pick of the Kiwi bowlers, dismissing both openers Russel Arnold (4) and Michael Vandort (25) with the new and then taking three more wickets after lunch to finish with five for 55.

A shaven-headed Shane Bond also impressed, taking three for 56 from 15 overs without ever pressing down fully on the gas, whilst key spinner Daniel Vettori snared one middle order wicket.