MELBOURNE, Feb 26 (PTI): Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara, playing in his 400th ODI, hit strokeful centuries to power Sri Lanka to a comfortable 92-run victory over Bangladesh in a Group A match of the cricket World Cup here today.
Electing to bat at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, Sri Lanka rode on Dilshan�s 161 and Sangakkara�s 105 to notch up a formidable 332 for one in the stipulated 50 overs.
The islanders, winner of the 1996 edition, then bowled out Bangladesh for 240 in 47 overs to register their second win in three matches. They had lost to New Zealand in the their tournament opener but regrouped to beat Afghanistan before today�s result.
Sangakkara became the fourth cricketer to appear in 400 ODIs.
After the Dilshan-Sangakkara duo laid a solid foundation with a 210-run unbeaten partnership for the second wicket, experienced pace spearhead Lasith Malinga (3/35) led the bowling unit admirably to complete an all-round display by the runner-up of the previous tournament.
Chasing a stiff target, Bangladesh, who have so far failed to make an impression in the mega-event, never looked in the hunt as they lost wickets at regular intervals.
Aggressive opener Tamim Iqbal was out for a duck and Mominul Haque made one run to leave the Asian minnows reeling at 41 for three. Anamul Haque (29), Soumya Sarkar (25 off a mere 15 balls with the help of five boundaries) and Mahmudullah (28) all got starts but could not convert into big scores.
Lower-order batsman Sabbir Rahman was the top-scorer for Bangladesh with a knock of 53 off 62 balls (7x4), while all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan contributed a 59-ball 46 with the help of four boundaries and a six before the Lankan bowlers ran through the tail.
Besides Malinga, Dilshan and Suranga Lakmal picked up two wickets apiece, while there was one apiece for skipper Angelo Mathews and Thisara Perera.
Earlier, Sri Lanka lost opener Lahiru Thirimanne�s (52) wicket on 122 before a double century stand propelled them to a commanding total. Lanka had an edgy start after Thirimanne was dropped off the fourth ball of the innings when Anamul Haque spilled a sitter at first slip to leave pace spearhead and captain Mashrafe Mortaza disappointed.
The left-handed Thirimanne continued to live dangerously after surviving another half chance off Mortaza, somehow managing to register his 12th ODI half-century in 78 deliveries, his innings laced with three boundaries.
Sharing the new ball with Mortaza, medium-pacer Hossain finally scalped Thirimanne in the 25th over. The veteran Sagakkara joined Dilshan at the crease and the duo soon found their groove even as Mortaza kept shuffling his bowlers.
SCORECARD
Sri Lanka: Lahiru Thirimanne c Taskin b Rubel 52, Tillakaratne Dilshan not out 161, Kumar Sangakkara not out 105. Extras: (B-3, LB-2, W-9) 14. Total: (for 1 wicket in 50 overs) 332. Fall of wickets: 1-122. Bowling: Mortaza 10-0-53-0, Rubel Hossain 9-0-62-1, Taskin 10-1-82-0, Shakib 10-0-55-0, Mahmudullah 7-0-49-0, Sabbir Rahman 4-0-26-0.
Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal b Malinga 0, Anamul Haque run out (Mathews) 29, Soumya Sarkar c Sangakkara b Mathews 25, Mominul Haque c Jayawardene b Lakmal 1, Mahmudullah c Herath b Perera 28, Shakib Al Hasan c Malinga b Dilshan 46, Mushfiqur Rahim b Lakmal 36, Sabbir Rahman c Sangakkara b Malinga 53, Mashrafe Mortaza st Sangakkara b Dilshan 7, Rubel Hossain not out, Taskin Ahmed lbw b Malinga 0. Extras: (LB 9, W 6) 15. Total: (all out; 47 overs) 240. Fall of wickets: 1-0, 2-40, 3-41, 4-84, 5-100, 6-164, 7-208, 8-228, 9-240, 10-240. Bowling: Lasith Malinga 9-0-35-3, Suranga Lakmal 8-0-49-2, Aneglo Mathews 5.4-0-36-1, Rangana Herath 10-0-43-0, Thisara Perera 6.2-0-33-1, Tillakaratne Dilshan 8-0-35-2.
