By RICHARD BOOCK
Sanath Jayasuriya rated yesterday's whirlwind century against New Zealand as one of the greatest innings of his career.
The Sri Lankan captain, over the moon after his side wrapped up the five-match series with a runaway nine-wicket win, brought up the milestone off a mere 76 balls as the tourists won the match with an astonishing 17.1 overs remaining.
The innings was the world's 14th-fastest ODI century and the second-fastest scored in New Zealand, shadowed only by Chris Cairns' rollicking 75-ball effort in the final ODI against India at Christchurch two summers ago.
Hitting 10 fours and and six sixes, Jayasuriya managed to score more than three-quarters of his runs in boundaries, at one stage smashing New Zealand all-rounder Craig McMillan for three consecutive sixes before eventually being caught on the deep mid-wicket boundary for 103.
"That was one of my greatest knocks - apart from the missed caught-and-bowled chance on 96," he said.
"I was seeing the ball really well and enjoying my innings. It was coming out of the middle and I was always intent on pushing on to a big score once I had been in for 10 or so overs."
Ironically, Jayasuriya had been asked if he had abandoned the swashbuckling approach after an innings of caution and patience in the previous ODI at Wellington.
"Sometimes small scores are difficult to chase," he said. "But I wanted to be positive right from the start. I'd heard about the theory of left-handers doing well at Eden Park, but I never worry about that sort of thing. If I see the ball, I go after it."
Sri Lanka, who were crushed 1-5 in the ODIs and 0-2 in the tests during the tour of South Africa, are now running high on confidence and are keen to wrap up their first 5-0 series win abroad, before returning home to meet England.
Jayasuriya said his side would be taking nothing for granted in the last two ODIs and expected a tough time from the New Zealanders, but believed his team were playing well enough to build on their three-game lead.
"Our bowlers are going very, very well," he said. "And with the batting proving successful as well, everyone's feeling up at the moment.
"We're really looking forward to the next game."
Cricket: Sri Lankan captain rates whirlwind century a career highlight
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