Wicket-keeper batsman Kumar Sangakkara hit a brilliant century to help Sri Lanka down Bangladesh by 131 runs in their Group A Asia Cup match on Wednesday.
The 30-year-old left-hander notched 101 for his seventh one-day hundred to propel the defending champions to 357-9 in their 50 overs before restricting Bangladesh to 226-7 in 50 overs.
Bangladesh were never on target as they lost opener Nazimuddin (1) and captain Mohammad Ashraful (8) by the 10th over. Only Mushfiqur Rahim (44) and Raqibul Hasan (35) offered some resistance during their fourth wicket 78-run stand in an otherwise disappointing batting display.
Mashrafe Mortaza (34) and Abdur Razzak (22) added 49 for the unbroken eighth wicket stand but it was too little and too late.
Sri Lanka were to play United Arab Emirates (UAE) yesterday to decide who tops the Group. Bangladesh beat UAE by 96 runs on Tuesday.
Pakistan, India and Hong Kong are placed in Group B. The top two teams qualify for the Super League stages in which all teams play each other once to decide the July 6 finalists.
Sri Lanka, who won the toss and batted, were indebted to Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya, who made 72. Chamara Kapugedera smashed a 67-ball 74.
Sangakkara hit 16 boundaries during his 91-ball knock and shared a 116-run stand for the opening wicket with Jayasuriya as the Islanders went on the rampage right from the word go.
The left-handers matched each other stroke for stroke as Sri Lanka completed 100 runs by the 14th over before left-arm spinner Abdur Razak ended Jayasuriya’s innings, bowling him with a straighter one.
Jaysauriya hit 10 boundaries and three sixes during his fiery 47-ball knock.
Sangakkara, who hit five boundaries in Dolar Mahmud’s third over, added 54 runs for the second wicket with Mahela Jayawardene but so one-sided was his domination during their partnership that his skipper managed just six.
Sangakkara finally holed out off medium pacer Mahmudullah Riyad in the 28th over and passed the baton to Kapugedera.
Kapugedera and Chamara Silva (19) added 53 more runs for the fourth wicket before Bangladesh stopped the run rampage, taking three wickets in the space of 33 runs. Kapugedera hit five boundaries and two towering sixes.
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