Capt Jayawardene hails Mendis

KARACHI – Captain Mahela Jayawardene hailed new spinning sensation Ajantha Mendis after he demolished India to help Sri Lanka retain the Asia Cup.

Jayawardene said he was not surprised by Mendis’s magical 6-13 in eight unplayable overs as India, chasing 274 to win Sunday’s final, were skittled out for 173. “I wasn’t really surprised with the way Mendis bowled,” said Jayawardene, adding the 23-year-old thrived when given room to express himself.”We have given him the freedom to go out there and play his way.That’s the way he takes games away from the opposition,” said Jayawardene.Sanath Jayasuriya earlier hit 125 to help Sri Lanka post 273 in 49.5 overs.Hosts Pakistan, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong also competed in the tournament.Jayawardene refused to compare Mendis with Sri Lanka’s world record holder Muttiah Muralitharan, the Asian Test bowler of the year.”It’s too early to say.Murali is a different act altogether,” said Jayawardene of the off-spinner.”Murali will come back to the party soon enough.It’s good to have another quality spinner in the team and with Mendis coming some pressure will be taken off Murali,” said Jayawardene.”Mendis has just come into international cricket, batsmen will get used to it.He will have to work harder,” he added.Jayawardene also praised centurion Jayasuriya for his “brilliant” innings.”He (Jayasuriya) is in terrific form and we didn’t try to stop him from what he was doing,” the Sri Lankan skipper said.”It was a brilliant innings, and the turning point for us.I know Mendis created so much, but we needed runs in the first place, and that’s what Sanath did.””We had a couple of injuries, and I am not making excuses, we didn’t play to our potential but in this tournament we have done what we wanted to and I am proud,” said Jayawardene.Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted his batsmen could not cope with the versatile and unorthodox Mendis, who took 17 wickets in the tournament.”It was one of those days when Mendis bowled well and it was the first time when we were playing against him.He is a difficult bowler,” said Dhoni.Nampa-AFP”I wasn’t really surprised with the way Mendis bowled,” said Jayawardene, adding the 23-year-old thrived when given room to express himself.”We have given him the freedom to go out there and play his way.That’s the way he takes games away from the opposition,” said Jayawardene.Sanath Jayasuriya earlier hit 125 to help Sri Lanka post 273 in 49.5 overs.Hosts Pakistan, Bangladesh, United Arab Emirates and Hong Kong also competed in the tournament.Jayawardene refused to compare Mendis with Sri Lanka’s world record holder Muttiah Muralitharan, the Asian Test bowler of the year.”It’s too early to say.Murali is a different act altogether,” said Jayawardene of the off-spinner.”Murali will come back to the party soon enough.It’s good to have another quality spinner in the team and with Mendis coming some pressure will be taken off Murali,” said Jayawardene.”Mendis has just come into international cricket, batsmen will get used to it.He will have to work harder,” he added.Jayawardene also praised centurion Jayasuriya for his “brilliant” innings.”He (Jayasuriya) is in terrific form and we didn’t try to stop him from what he was doing,” the Sri Lankan skipper said.”It was a brilliant innings, and the turning point for us.I know Mendis created so much, but we needed runs in the first place, and that’s what Sanath did.””We had a couple of injuries, and I am not making excuses, we didn’t play to our potential but in this tournament we have done what we wanted to and I am proud,” said Jayawardene.Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni admitted his batsmen could not cope with the versatile and unorthodox Mendis, who took 17 wickets in the tournament.”It was one of those days when Mendis bowled well and it was the first time when we were playing against him.He is a difficult bowler,” said Dhoni.Nampa-AFP