Jayasuriya was the Black Knight in shinning armour. Renowned for his dashing stroke play, he put his head down, held back his natural instinct for dynamic stroke play and realising that his team had an uphill task to stave off the ignominy of a follow on after India piled up a massive 537 for 8 declared, concentrated and took Sri Lanka to safety, ably supported by Mahanama.
At the close on the fourth day Sri Lanka were 587 for one with Jayasuriya unbeaten on 326 and Mahanama on 211.
The more experienced Mahanama preferred to play second fiddle to his junior partner Jayasuriya who played the innings of his life. This unassuming lad from down South - Matara - batted in the manner born. He cut out all the frills, treated the bowling on its merits and never for once showed any signs of tiredness as he lowered every conceivable individual record and continued to erase many on partnership record with Mahanama.
With a frame that every bodybuilder will envy, Jayasuriya is all muscle. With supple muscle coupled with wrists and forearms of steel, he times the ball and rockets it to the boundary giving the fielders no chance whatsoever of stopping it.
Now the question on everyone's lips is: Will Jayasuriya lower West Indian Brian Lara's record score of 375? Knowing Jayasuriya as I do, he is not one who will let this opportunity slip.
When he and Mahanama kept the Indians toiling on the field with batsmanship of the highest class, which erased record after record, names of former illustrious cricketers such as the great Sir Donald Bradman, Sir Garfield Sobers, Wally Hammond, Hanif Mohammed, Graham Gooch, Bob Cowper, Bobby Simpson Sir Len Hutton came flooding to my memory and TV and Radio commentators repeated them which was like sweet music to the ears.
Obviously by now Brian Lara who lowered Sir Garfield Sobers' record must be aware that our own master blaster Jayasuriya is breathing down his world individual batting record. He sure will spend a sleepless night.
It is apparent that everything in Sri Lanka will come to a standstill today, as Jayasuriya nears the world mark.
It is our hope and wish that when play resumes Jayasuriya will surpass Laras's record. When that happens all Sri Lanka and Sri Lankans domiciled where ever they are, will toast Jayasuriya.
At the moment he has become the first Sri Lankan batsman to go over the magical 300 run mark.
Jayasuriya and Mahanama are now the proud holders of the record for any wicket in world cricket.
It has been a two day batting endurance by Jayasuriya and Mahanama.
Arjuna Ranatunga, the Sri Lankan captain can today walk on water. We say this because the toss he lost was a lucky one. Had he won the toss roles would have been vice versa.