Jayasuriya in line for player of the tournament award

Chris DHAMBARAGE reporting from South Africa

CRICKET: Sri Lanka’s dynamic all rounder Sanath Jayasuriya is in line for another special award following his back to back half centuries in the on going inaugural International Cricket Council Twenty20 World Cup tournament in South Africa.

The dashing left hander who also bagged two man of the match awards has taken an early lead in the rankings for the Player of the Tournament with a total of six points. Jayasuriya is having a wonderful tournament so far as he has produced the brilliant form that helped him to win the Most Valuable Player award at the 1996 World Cup.

In two innings he has accumulated a total of 149 runs at an average of 74.50 including two half centuries. He made 61 from 44 balls in the opening match against Kenya and followed up with a top score of 88 from 44 balls against New Zealand.

Jayasuriya is also the highest run getter so far in the tournament well ahead of West Indian Chris Gayle (117), B. R. M. Taylor of Zimbabwe (107), Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardena (100) and Kevin Pieterson of England (100). Jayasuriya has so far hoisted a total of seven sixes and is certain to overcome West Indian Chris Gayle in this category.

In addition he has the most number of boundaries with a total of 17 fours three ahead of South African Herschel Gibbs (14), Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardena (13) and Aftab Ahmed of Bangladesh (13).

In fact overall Sri Lanka has hit the most number of fours with a total of 44 to their credit well ahead of South Africa (39) and Pakistan (33). In the category for the most sixes Sri Lanka are placed second with 17 to their credit three less than the West Indies (20). England are placed third with a total of 13 sixes.

Jayasuriya’s score of 88 runs against New Zealand is also the third highest individual score in the tournament behind West Indian Chris Gayle’s knock of 117 against South Africa and Herschel Gibbs unbeaten 90 against the West Indies.

Jayasuriya has also proved himself as a useful off spinner and is the second best bowler in the leading economy rates of the tournament so far. He has conceded 4.85 runs per over from the two games and is behind Bangladesh’s Syed Rasal who has an economy rate of 4.75.

Meanwhile Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardena has the second best strike rate in the tournament so far with 222.22 behind Mohammed Ashraful of Bangladesh who has 236.66. They are followed by Justin Kemp of South Africa (200.00), Chris Gayle of West Indies (195.00) and Kevin Pieterson of England (175.43).

Jayawardena is also placed second in the leading averages with 100.00 and is just behind B. R. M. Taylor of Zimbabwe who has an average of 107.00. They are followed by Aftab Ahmed (Bangladesh - 98.00), Sanath Jayasuriya (Sri Lanka - 74.50) and Mathew Hayden (Australia - 71.00).

JOHANNESBURG, Sunday.