Dilshan pilots Lanka to a 126 run win

Tillekeratne Dilshan starred with bat and ball as Sri Lanka cruised to a convincing 126 run victory over Bangladesh in their Asia Cup limited overs cricket tournament match worked off under lights at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium yesterday. After having posted 312 for 4 the highest ever total at this venue, Sri Lanka the defending champions then put up a pleasing performance on the field to restrict Bangladesh to 186 runs in the 41st over.

The Lankans while recording their second straight win of the tournament also collected an extra bonus point from this game and are almost certain of playing in next Thursday’s final at the same venue. Dilshan who came into the attack as the first change bowler rose to the occasion while capturing three important wickets while conceding 37 runs from his ten overs following his top score of 71 in the Sri Lankan innings.

Bangladesh of course started their run chase on a positive note with opener Tamim Iqbal smashing a run a ball half century with one six and five boundaries. Together with Junaid Siddique they put Bangladesh on the correct path with a threatening second wicket stand of 57 runs in ten overs.

Sri Lanka were under pressure at this stage of the innings and they were forced to bring in the spinners inside the power play overs. Muralitharan delivered the goods while ending the partnership between Iqbal and Siddique with Kulasekera holding on to a diving catch.

Earlier Sri Lanka posted a formidable total of 312 for 4 from their 50 overs after skipper Kumar Sangakkara had won the toss for the second time and elected to bat first.

The openers Upul Tharanga and Tillekeratne Dilshan gave their side a rollicking start to the innings with a stand of 111 runs from 16 overs.

Dilshan powered his way to a breathtaking 71 from just 51 deliveries inclusive of one six and eleven boundaries.

Tharanga provided excellent support while hoisting one six and stroking five boundaries during his 73 ball 54. He also put on 44 runs for the second wicket along with skipper Kumar Sangakkara.

But it was the 69 run partnership between Sangakkara and former captain Mahela Jayawardena that really set the pace for a match winning total. Jayawardena raced to a 35 ball 43 with the help of six boundaries while Sangakkara went on to complete a superb half century from 69 deliveries studded with four boundaries.

All rounder Angelo Mathews and Chamara Kapugedera took over the situation from there onwards and carried Sri Lanka past the three hundred run mark.

The pair figured in an unfinished fifth wicket stand of 88 runs during the last ten overs of the innings.

Mathews hit a run ball 42 with one six and one boundary while Kapugedera remained unbeaten on 37 from 30 deliveries inclusive of two sixes and one boundary.

SRI LANKA
U. Tharanga c Rahim b Mahmudullah	54
T. Dilshan c and b Shakib		71
K. Sangakkara c Shakib b Shafiul	52
M. Jayawardene c Shakib b Shafiul	43
A. Mathews not out			42
C. Kapugedera not out			37
Extras: (b2, lb3, w8)			13
Total (for four wickets, 50 overs)	312
Fall of wickets: 1-111 (Dilshan), 2-155 (Tharanga), 3-224 (Jayawardene), 4-239 (Sangakkara).
Bowling: Mortaza 8-0-70-0, Rasel 8-0-61-0 (w1), Shafiul 10-0-59-2 (w4), Shakib 10-0-49-1 (w1), 
Ashraful 4-0-19-0, Naeem 3-0-21-0 (w1), Mahmudullah 7-0-28-1 (w1).

BANGLADESH
Tamim Iqbal st Sangakkara b Dilshan		51
Imrul Kayes c Jayawardene b Kulasekera		 3
Junaid Siddique c Kulasekera b Muralitharan	38
Mohammad Ashraful lbw b Dilshan			 9
Shakib Al Hasan b Muralitharan			20
Mushfiqur Rahim st Sangakkara b Dilshan		 6
Mohammad Mahmudullah c Sangakkara b Welegedara	 9
Naeem Islam lbw b Malinga			15
Mashrafe Mortaza c Sangakkara b Welegedara	15
Shafiul Islam b Malinga				 2
Syed Rasel not out				 0
Extras: (b1, lb5, w11, nb1)			18
Total (all out, 40.2 overs)			186
Fall of wickets: 1-20 (Kayes), 2-77 (Siddique), 3-104 (Tamim), 4-110 (Ashraful), 5-126 (Rahim), 
6-143 (Shakib), 7-167 (Mahmudullah), 8-168 (Naeem), 9-186 (Mortaza), 10-186 (Shafiul).
Bowling: Kulasekera 6-0-39-1 (w2), Malinga 8.2-0-35-2 (w3), Dilshan 10-0-37-3 (w3), 
Muralitharan 8-0-38-2, Welegedara 8-2-31-2 (w3, nb1).