Like Virender Sehwag on Saturday, the opening day of the World Cup, Mahela Jayawardene held centre stage when Sri Lanka took on minnows Canada in their tournament opener at home in Hambantota on Sunday.
The former Sri Lanka skipper, after surviving an umpire referral, had his home fans shouting hoarse as he rattled up 100 runs off just 81 deliveries as Sri Lanka posted a formidable 332 for seven.
In reply, the Canadaians could only muster 122 runs as they went down by 210 runs.
The hundred was Jayawardene's second in World Cup matches.
Jayawardene, who had 671 runs from 25 World Cup matches before Sunday's match, was out after reaching his 12th ODI hundred, that included nine boundaries and a six.
He survived two caught behind appeals at 11 and 22 as the referral system did not have the hot spot or the snickometer to guide the third umpire.
He and skipper Kumar Sangakkara put together 179 runs in just 22 overs in a third-wicket stand. The effort was commendable, considering the sluggish pitch and long boundaries at the stadium.
Sangakkara was unfortunate not to score his maiden World Cup hundred as he was dismissed for 92, hitting back an easy return catch to John Davison. He faced 87 balls and hit seven fours and a six.
