LAHORE, June 25: A brilliant batting display by veterans Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya followed by Chamara Kapugedera’s half-century powered defending champions Sri Lanka to a massive 357 for nine in the Asia Cup Group ‘A’ match against a mediocre-looking Bangladesh bowling at the Gaddafi Stadium here on Wednesday.

Sangakkara (101) and his opening partner Jayasuriya gave their team a flying start of 116 off just 14.5 overs as Sri Lanka, put in to bat first by Bangladesh captain Mohammad Ashraful, piled up a mountainous total.

In fact, Sri Lanka could even go beyond 357 while they were 303-5 with 8.4 overs to spare. However, they lost four wickets during the course to be restricted to 357.

Jayasuriya was in more aggressive mode, completing his 50 off just 32 balls with eight fours and a six. Sangakkara reached 50 off 57 balls with the help of eight fours as Sri Lankan openers dominated the proceedings.

At 116, Jayasuriya, looking well set to reach his 26th century, was clean bowled while trying to cut Abdur Razzak for 72 (off 47 balls) studded with 10 fours and three sixes.

After Jayasuriya’s dismissal, Sangakkara took charge and with captain Mahela Jayawardene added a quickfire 54 for the second wicket.

Jayawardene, who had the share of just six runs, also became a clean-bowled victim of Razzak. Sangakkara, who survived at 70, when Dolar Mahmud dropped the left-handed batsman off his own bowling, finally completed his century in the 27th over.

But after adding one run, a top edge off Mahmudullah dismissed Sangakkara as Tamim Iqbal held a simple catch in the cover. Sangakkara slammed 10 fours and three big sixes.

Then Kapugedera stabled the innings with his fine batting. He contributed 74 runs off 67 balls, with five fours and two sixes. He with Chamara Silva added 53 runs for the fourth wicket as Sri Lanka crossed 250-mark in 34.4 overs.

At 303, when the Sri Lankans were looking formidable, Kapugedera was caught by Mashrafe Mortaza at long on off Razzak. After that dismissal, no Sri Lankan could accelerate further as the innings ended at 357-9.

Razzak claimed three wickets for 55 while Shahadat Hossain (2-62 off seven overs) and Mashrafe Mortaza (2-53) also had their shares.

Scoreboard

SRI LANKA:

S. Jayasuriya b Razzak 72

K. Sangakkara c Iqbal b Mahmudullah 101

M. Jayawardene b Razzak 6

C. Kapugedera c Mortaza b Razzak 74

C. Silva c Rahim b Kapali 19

T. Dilshan c Iqbal b Mortaza 29

C. Vaas c Iqbal b Mortaza 13

N. Kulasekera c Ashraful b Hossain 1

A. Mendis not out 15

M. Muralitharan c Ashraful b Hossain 5

D. Fernando not out 0

EXTRAS (LB-4, W-18) 22

TOTAL (for nine wkts, 50 overs) 357

FALL OF WKTS: 1-116, 2-170, 3-211, 4-264, 5-303, 6-330, 7-336, 8-337, 9-347.

BOWLING: Mortaza 10-0-53-2 (2w); Hossain 7-0-62-2 (2w); Mahmud 3-0-49-0 (3w); Mahmudullah 10-0-62-1 (6w); Razzak 10-0-55-3 (2w); Kapali 10-0-72-1 (3w).

BANGLADESH: Mohammad Ashraful (captain), Mashrafe Mortaza, Mahmudullah Riyad, Tamim Iqbal, Alok Kapali, Abdur Razzak, Nazimuddin, Raqibul Hasan, Shahadat Hossain, Mushfiqur Rahim, Dolar Mahmud.

UMPIRES: Simon Taufel (Australia), Ian Gould (England).

TV UMPIRE: Zameer Haider (Pakistan)

MATCH REFEREE: Mike Procter (South Africa).