PORT-OF-SPAIN (Trinidad), March 22: Sanath Jayasuriya hammered a blistering century to set up Sri Lanka's crushing 198-run win over Bangladesh in the rain-hit World Cup Group B match here on Wednesday (also partially reported in Thursday’s edition).
The left-handed opener scored an 87-ball 109 for his 24th hundred as Sri Lanka posted a challenging 318-4 after being put in to bat on a good pitch at the Queen's Park Oval.
He also became the second-highest century-maker, behind only Indian Sachin Tendulkar who holds the world record with 41 hundreds.
Sri Lanka's total proved too big for Bangladesh, who were bowled out for 112 chasing a rain-revised target off 311 off 46 overs to suffer their first defeat in two matches.
Bangladesh still have a chance to qualify for the Super Eight stage as they meet debutants Bermuda in their last Group B match, while Sri Lanka boosted their hopes with a second successive victory.
“Our focus today was to concentrate on our strengths and play some smart cricket,” said Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene.
“I'm very pleased. It's very important when you play against Bangladesh (that) you just do not lose early wickets because obviously they only have five bowlers.”
Mohammad Ashraful top-scored with an unbeaten 45. Skipper Habibul Bashar (18) and Aftab Ahmed (12) were the others to reach double-figures in a dismal Bangladeshi batting performance.
Bangladesh were rocked by Lasith Malinga, a fast bowler with deceptive round-arm action and a gold-tinted hairdo, who grabbed two wickets in his four incisive opening overs. Malinga eventually finished with three wickets.
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), 2-202 (Jayawardene, 35.3 ov), 3-261 (Sangakkara, 35.3
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.