Tillakaratne Dilshan cracked a solid century to power Sri Lanka to an emphatic seven-wicket victory over Bangladesh in a triangular one-day series match here on Monday.
The in-form opener hit 104 for his sixth one-day hundred as Sri Lanka surpassed Bangladesh’s 260-7 with more than five overs to spare in the day-night match.
Bangladesh were earlier well-served by Mohammad Ashraful, who made an impressive 75 to help his side post a competitive total.
Sri Lanka clashed with India yesterday. Each side will play four league matches before the top two make it to the final next Wednesday.
Dilshan, who had smashed two centuries in India in a five-match series just before this tournament, put his side on course for an easy victory with a 148-run stand for the second wicket with skipper Kumar Sangakkara.
The Sri Lankan captain was more aggressive than his partner, scoring a 73-ball 74 with 10 fours before being caught behind off debutant seamer Shafiul Islam.
Sangakkara, who elected to field after winning the toss, said he did not want to bowl in the night because of the dew.
“I have seen dew before, but never like this. I would not want to field in conditions like this. My bowlers would not want to bowl in these conditions,” he said.
Bangladesh had a chance to dismiss Dilshan when the batsman was on 61 in a total of 156, but skipper Shakib Al Hasan failed to hold a return catch.
Man-of-the-match Dilshan, batting with a runner because of a hamstring injury during the later part of his knock, completed his century when he drove spinner Ashraful for a four.
Dilshan, who put on 59 for the third wicket with Thilan Samaraweera (41 not out), hit 12 fours in his 122-ball knock.
Bangladesh were earlier struggling at 74-4 when Ashraful added 58 for the fifth wicket with Mushfiqur Rahim (35) and 95 for the next with Mohammad Mahmudullah (45).
■INDIA V SRI LANKA
AFP, DHAKA
Yuvraj Singh scored a solid half-century to help India post a competitive 279-9 in their triangular one-day series match against Sri Lanka yesterday.
India were struggling at 71-3 following a three-wicket burst from paceman Chanaka Welegedara, but Yuvraj came to their rescue with an 84-ball 74 in the day-night game.
Yuvraj put on 99 for the fourth wicket with skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (37) after left-arm seamer Welegedara rocked India’s top order in his lively opening spell.
Welegedara finished with 5-66, his maiden five-wicket haul in six one-day internationals.
■ENGLAND V S AFRICA
AFP, CAPE TOWN
Opening batsman Ashwell Prince failed for the second time in the match as South Africa set out to build on a slender first innings lead on the third day of the third Test against England at Newlands yesterday.
South Africa were 56 for one at lunch, an overall lead of 74.
Prince, out for nought in the first innings, made 15 before he was leg before wicket to off-spinner Graeme Swann’s seventh ball of the innings.
England were all out for 273 in their first innings earlier, losing their last three wickets for 32 runs in six overs. It gave South Africa a lead of 18 runs.
Fast bowler Morne Morkel took wickets off successive balls in the first over of the day to complete his second five-wicket haul in Tests. He finished with five for 75.
Morkel had the right-handed Swann and the left-handed James Anderson caught at first slip by South African captain Graeme Smith off fast lifting deliveries.
Matt Prior hit boldly to take his overnight score from 52 to 76 before he was bowled off a bottom edge when he shaped to pull Dale Steyn, who had figures of four for 74.
Prince survived one review, successfully winning the reversal of a leg side caught behind decision made by umpire Daryl Harper off the bowling of Anderson when he had five. A replay showed the ball had glanced off his pad with the bat not near the ball.
There seemed little point to his second call for a review when he prodded forward to Swann and was given out by umpire Tony Hill. He looked palpably out and this was confirmed by a replay.
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