MAHELA Jayawardene has vowed to do his best to join Somerset’s ‘illustrious’ list of successful overseas players after becoming the county’s second marquee signing for this season’s NatWest T20 Blast.

The former Sri Lanka captain and current all-time leading run scorer in the ICC World Twenty20, will play 12 of Somerset’s 14 group matches in the Blast and says he hopes to ‘bring success’ to Taunton.

Jaywardene said: “Somerset is a really good club with a long history and I hope that I can help bring success to the county.

“The club has a tradition of successful overseas players and I will be doing my best to join that illustrious list.”

Director of cricket, Matt Maynard said: “Mahela is a batsman of undoubted class who scores his runs all around the wicket.

“He is a true professional and will have a major influence both on and off the field for us during the NatWest T20 Blast campaign.”