Mahela magic a welcome addition

The last-minute signing of Mahela Jayawardena has already paid big dividends for the Adelaide Strikers.

The Sri Lankan legend showed all his class and experience in steering his new team through a tricky run chase against the reigning KFC Big Bash League champions at the WACA Ground on Monday night.

Quick Single: Strikers make it two from two

Coming to the crease in the second over with the Strikers needing a further 134 off 110 balls against the quality Perth Scorchers bowling attack, Jayawardena’s 42 from 40 helped see Adelaide through the most difficult part of the chase.

It was exactly the role the Strikers would have had in mind when they signed the 38-year-old just 11 days ago as a late replacement for injured West Indian allrounder Kieron Pollard.

"It’s a tough place to come and beat them here, but the bowlers set the tone up front and kept picking up wickets, which kept them to a decent, chaseable score," Jayawardena said.

“It was a tough wicket with the new ball and we had to stall for a little while, but it was just sensible batting at the end."

HIGHLIGHTS: Strikers down Scorchers in Perth

When Pollard tore his ACL playing in South Africa’s domestic T20 competition last month, the Strikers were left scrambling to find a last-minute replacement for their West Indian marquee import.

Luckily for them, the recently retired Sri Lankan great – with his 652 international matches and 25,957 international runs worth of experience - was available and all too ready to don the Strikers blue for BBL|05.

His call-up came late, but Jayawardena is already enjoying life in the BBL, a sentiment no doubt helped by an unbeaten start to the season against the reigning premiers and BBL|04 semi-finalists Melbourne Stars.

"It’s a really good group," he said.

"It’s a tough tournament, every game is tough, so we’ve got to make sure we win our home games and when we are on the road we get ourselves in a good position.”

While Jayawardena was dismissed top-edging a David Willey delivery when 21 runs were still required for victory – and was clearly furious with himself when he returned to the dugout – the right-hander was nonetheless pleased to have guided his new team to their second impressive win from as many matches.

"We set it up (but) it was disappointing that Hodgey and myself I couldn’t finish it off,” he said.

"I was pretty gutted when I got out, I should have finished it off, but at the end of the day it’s a good win for us. Getting two wins before Christmas is great."

It was left to Alex Ross to see the Strikers home, and Jayawardena was full of praise for the in-form 23-year-old, who followed his 65 from last Friday with a composed 38 from 29 that all but finished the job.

"Rossy came in and batted really well,” Jayawardena said.

"He was in brilliant form."

WATCH: Ross guides Strikers home