Mahela Jayawardene praises Lasith Malinga's big-game skills despite having a portly belly after his heroics

Former Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardene praised Lasith Malinga for his big-match temperament after the speedster inspired his team to a shock upset win over England in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019. 

Malinga ended with figures of 4 for 43 as he helped Sri Lanka dismiss England - the hot favourites for the title - to only 212 as they beat the hosts by 20 runs at Leeds on Friday. 

The 35-year old has often been criticized for his unathletic body, and was in the news as well before the game against England after a picture of Malinga without his shirt went viral. The yorker-specialist was seen with a huge belly, which was criticised. With fitness levels hitting the roof in cricket in recent times, Malinga's paunch was related to Malinga's poor run in the form before the game. But he returned to silence all critics. 

Well bowled Mali!!! Thought i would share the most talked about picture last week for all you fans..

"It's not about the six pack, it's about the skill and Lasith Malinga showed that in spades in Sri Lanka's win over England," Jayawardene wrote in his column for the International Cricket Council.

"He has done it so many times for Sri Lanka over the years but it was great to see him at his best. He was on a mission with the new ball." 

"Big players perform in big games and that is what he did, removing Root and then Jos Buttler who could have won the game for England as well."

Sri Lanka, the 1996 champions, are fifth in the points table and will hope to finish in the top-four.