March 22, 2007	Thursday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 2, 1428

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PORT-OF-SPAIN (Trinidad), March 21: Sanath Jayasuriya recovered from cramps to smash a century and spur Sri Lanka to 318 for four in their World Cup Group B match against Bangladesh on Wednesday.

The 37-year-old struck 109 off 87 balls, having limped off clutching his left leg on 83 in the 25th over soon after returning from a 30-minute rain break.

Jayasuriya hammered seven fours and seven sixes, including hoisting one against spinner Abdur Razzak over midwicket to reach his second World Cup hundred in his fifth appearance.

He 24th ODI century allowed him to nose ahead of Australian skipper Ricky Ponting to second in the list for most one-day hundreds. Sachin Tendulkar holds the record with 41.

Bangladesh paid a heavy price for sloppy fielding and catching with skipper Habibul Bashar, who put in the opposition at Queen's Park Oval, dropping two of them.

Jayasuriya dominated a 98-run opening partnership with fellow left-hander Upul Tharanga (26) before Kumar Sangakkara (56) and Chamara Silva (52 not out) notched their second successive fifties in the tournament.

Skipper Mahela Jayawardene hit a chancy 46.

Bangladesh, who shocked India by five wickets in their first game, disappointed after Syed Rasel and wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim missed direct run out attempts against Tharanga and Jayawardene had touched double figures.

Jayasuriya and Tharanga quickly negated early seam movement from new ball bowlers Mashrafe Mortaza and Rasel to quickly take charge.

Bangladesh were a pale shadow of their brilliant fielding which helped dismiss India for 191 on Saturday.

Jayasuriya was eventually caught reverse-sweeping in the 48th over.

Sri Lanka, the 1996 champions, are looking for their second win like Bangladesh after defeating debutants Bermuda by 243 runs.

India beat Bermuda by 257 runs on Monday to also remain in the race with them for one of the two Super Eight spots.

 

Scoreboard
SRI LANKA:
W.U. Tharanga c Aftab b Rafique	26
S.T. Jayasuriya c Habibul b Razzak	109
D.P.M.D. Jayawardene c Aftab b Saqibul	46
K.C. Sangakkara c Tamim b Rasel	56
L.P.C. Silva not out	52
R.P. Arnold not out	5
EXTRAS (LB-11, W-10, NB-3)	24
TOTAL (for four wkts, 50 overs)	318
FALL OF WKTS: 1-98 (Tharanga, 14.2 ov), 1-137 (Jayasuriya, retired not out, 24.6 ov), 2-202 (Jayawardene, 35.3 ov), 3-261 (Sangakkara, 44.4 ov), 4-300 (Jayasuriya, 47.6 ov).
DID NOT BAT: T.M. Dilshan, M.F. Maharoof, W.P.U.J.C. Vaas, S.L. Malinga, M. Muralitharan.
BOWLING: Mashrafe Mortaza 10-0-66-0 (3nb, 2w), Syed Rasel 10-0-58-1 (5w); Abdur Razzak 10-0-86-1 (3w); Mohammad Rafique 10-0-48-1; Saqibul Hasan 10-0-49-1.
BANGLADESH: Shahriar Nafees, Tamim Iqbal, Mushfiqur Rahim, Aftab Ahmed, Saqibul Hasan, Habibul Bashar, Mohammad Ashraful, Mohammad Rafique, Abdur Razzak, Mashrafe Mortaza, Syed Rasel.
UMPIRES: D.J. Harper and S.J. Davis (both Australia).
TV UMPIRE: I.L. Howell (South Africa).
MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand).—Agencies