"As this tournament has progressed, it's been clear we have needed a spark. And there it is...", Read former Sri Lankan skipper Mahela Jayawardene's take on Avishka Fernando

Former Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene said that Avishka Fernando can be the "spark" to reignite Sri Lanka after the 21-year-old hit his maiden one-day international ton against the West Indies.

Fernando's century on 1 July helped Sri Lanka secure their third win of the tournament but it was too little too late for the Asian side, who have been knocked out of the tournament.

"It has been a tough couple of years for Sri Lanka but we have learned our lessons," Jayawardene wrote in a column for the International Cricket Council (ICC). "It is important that we plan around a group of players who will be there for the next four years and I think Avishka has shown he has to be a big part of that", he added. 

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Fernando was only drafted into the side for Sri Lanka's sixth match

"He will take a lot of confidence from this and he has now proven to himself that he can go on and do it on the international stage," added Jayawardene. "I thought he might start the tournament but the selectors understandably went with experience. But as this tournament has progressed, it's been clear we have needed a spark. And there it is", Jayawardane said.  

Avishka Fernando impressed the fans in making 49 in a shock win over England and was Sri Lanka's joint top scorer with 30 in a disappointing nine-wicket thrashing by South Africa.

Fernando will have another chance to shine when Sri Lanka round off their World Cup campaign against India on 6 July at Headingley, Leeds. Sri Lanka have managed to win just three matches in the ongoing tournament and have lost thrice with two games being washed out. The island nation failed to make it big in the first half of the tournament. However, they picked up two consecutive victories against England and West Indies, and will hope to end their campaign on a high by defeating India. 

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