Mahela Jayawardene is one of the best players that Sri Lanka has produced in the history of cricket. He was an all-format prolific scorer who scored a century in all three formats. However, he was more successful in the longest format. Jayawardene made his test debut in August 1997 against India in a game in which Sri Lanka scored 952/6 (highest test total).
He also made 66 in his debut inning. Overall, Jayawardene played 149 tests in his career and scored 11814 runs at an average of almost 50 (49.84). The Sri Lankan legend also scored 34 hundreds and 50 half-centuries, for a best of 374. Jayawardene made seven double hundreds in his career, and we will talk about all those below.
Mahela Jayawardene Double Century List in Test Cricket
Score | Against | Venue | Date |
242 | India | Colombo | 24 February 1999 |
237 | South Africa | Galle | 4 August 2004 |
374 | South Africa | Colombo | 27 July 2006 |
213* | England | Galle | 18 December 2007 |
240 | Pakistan | Karachi | 21 February 2009 |
275 | India | Ahmedabad | 16 November 2009 |
213* | Bangladesh | Dhaka | 29 January 2014 |
1. Mahela Jayawardene – 242 vs India in 1999
Mahela Jayawardene scored his maiden double hundred in February against India in Colombo. India scored 518/7d and 306/5 in two innings, while Sri Lanka batted once and made 485. Jayawardene scored 242 runs with 30 fours and two sixes in that inning. The match ended in a draw.
2. Mahela Jayawardene – 237 vs South Africa in 2004
Jayawardene scored his second double hundred against South Africa in August 2004 at Galle. Sri Lanka scored 486 runs in the first inning, and he made 237 runs with 25 fours and three sixes. South Africa made 376 and 203/3, and Sri Lanka made 214/9 in the second inning. With not much time left, the game ended in a draw.
3. Mahela Jayawardene – 374 vs South Africa in 2006
Jayawardene is one of those players who has scored a triple century in Test cricket. In fact, he holds the record for the fourth-highest individual score in Test cricket. It was a winning cause for Sri Lanka. He scored it against South Africa in July 2006 in Colombo. South Africa scored 169 and 434 runs in two innings. Sri Lanka batted once and declared at 756/5. Jayawardene tried to score a 400 but got out for 374 runs. It is the highest test score by a Sri Lankan.
4. Mahela Jayawardene – 213 not out vs England in 2007
The fourth double century for Jayawardene came in December 2007 against England in Galle. It was the third test of the three-match series. Sri Lanka declared the first inning at 499/8, and Jayawardene made 213 not out with 25 fours. England batted poorly, got all out for 81, and played again. In the second inning, England were at 251/6 when the match ended in a draw.
5. Mahela Jayawardene – 240 vs Pakistan in 2009
Jayawardene smashed his fifth double hundred against Pakistan, which came in an away game in Karachi in February 2009. Sri Lanka batted first and declared at 644/7 in 155.2 overs. Jayawardene scored a brilliant 240 with 32 fours. Pakistan also batted well and scored 765/6d in 248.5 overs. Younis Khan scored 313. Sri Lanka were at 144/5 when the game ended in a draw.
6. Mahela Jayawardene – 275 vs India in 2009
Another away double century for Jayawardene came in November 2009. He scored it against India in Ahmedabad. India made 426 runs in the first inning, and Sri Lanka declared at a huge score of 760/7 with a lead of 336 runs. Jayawardene played a marathon inning of 275 with 27 fours and one six. The game ended in a draw when India were at 412/4.
7. Mahela Jayawardene – 203 not out vs Bangladesh in 2014
The seventh and final double century for Jayawardene was made in January 2014. He scored it against Bangladesh in Mirpur. Bangladesh played twice and registered scores of 232 and 250. On the other hand, Sri Lanka batted once and made 730/6 d. Jayawardene scored an unbeaten 203 with 16 fours and four sixes. Sri Lanka won that game by an inning and 248 runs.