Sri Lanka captain Jayawardene signs for Derbyshire

LONDON, Oct 24 (Reuters) Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene will join Derbyshire for the first half of 2008, the English county side said.

The 30-year-old batsman will arrive before the end of April and stay at the club until mid-July, Derbyshire said on their Web site www.derbyshireccc.com.

''Signing such a world-class player and current international captain is a massive boost for the club ahead of the 2008 season,'' Derbyshire chairman Don Amott said.

Jayawardene is the second highest run-scorer in Sri Lankan test history and led the side to the World Cup final earlier this year.

Reuters BJR DB1820