5 centuries that were overshadowed

BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA - DECEMBER 19: Cheteshwar Pujara of India bats during day three of the 2nd Test match between Australia and India at The Gabba on December 19, 2014 in Brisbane, Australia. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images) — Pujara’s classy 113 was overshadowed by Tendulkar’s farewell and Rohit Sharma’s ton

#1 Mahela Jayawardene: **103* vs India at Mumbai, April 2011**

SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA - MARCH 18: Mahela Jayawardene of Sri Lanka bats during the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup match between South Africa and Sri Lanka at Sydney Cricket Ground on March 18, 2015 in Sydney, Australia. (Photo by Mark Kolbe/Getty Images) — Elegance at its best: Jayawardene during his century in 2011 World Cup finals

The final of World Cup 2011 is stamped with Dhoni’s masterclass innings with that winning six over long-on being its cover poster. The game is also remembered for Gautam Gambhir’s solid knock of 97.

But on that night when Dhoni won the hearts of millions of cricket fans and India won the World Cup, a Sri Lankan player left the ground dejected and may be thinking what more could he have done to win that game for his team. Because that night he became the only batsman to score a hundred in the final of a World Cup and yet end up on the losing side.

Mahela Jayawardene walked to the crease with his team at 60 for two after 16.2 overs. The opening batsmen had wasted valuable time batting nervously and the Indian bowlers were on top.

The former Sri Lankan captain spent a while in the middle getting his eye in and soon pressed the foot on the accelerator. He drove Harbhajan against the turn to point region and then pulled Yuvraj when he erred slightly in his length.

However, more than the boundaries, Jayawardene utilised the singles and doubles to milk the bowlers in the middle overs. It was a smart and sensational batting effort. Very quietly the right-hand batsman took the game away from India and earned the momentum for his team.

It was an innings to remember as Mahela indulged in his trademark elegant strokeplay with almost impossible to believe calmness in an atmosphere that was completely chaotic.

The final punch came in the death overs when he went berserk and launched an all-out attack. In his final 10 balls, he scored 22 runs and provided the much-needed flourish to the Sri Lankan innings. They scored 64 in the last five overs to finish at 274 for six after 50 overs.

Jayawardene scored 103 runs from 88 balls at a staggering strike rate of 117.04.

However, later that night MSD produced a scintillating innings that completely overshadowed Jayawardene’s efforts.