Sri Lanka virtually guaranteed themselves a place in the World Cup Super Eights with a 198-run thrashing of Bangladesh in their second group-B game on Wednesday.
It was not all gloom and doom for Bangladesh, however, as the surprise five-wicket victors over former champions India in their opening game are hotly fancied to beat whipping-boys Bermuda in their final first-round game on Saturday.
India need to beat Sri Lanka on Friday in a bid to claim a spot in the second phase, likely on run-rate difference from Bangladesh, should the latter beat the Bermudians.
At the Queen’s Park Oval in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Sanath Jayasuriya smashed a quickfire century to help Sri Lanka post a challenging 318-5 against Bangladesh.
The left-handed opener, who had left the field on 83 due to cramp, returned in the closing overs to score an 87-ball 109, with seven sixes and as many fours, for his 24th hundred in one-day internationals.
Skipper Mahela Jayawardene (46), wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara (56) and Chamara Silva (52 not out) all chipped in as Bangladesh failed to reproduce the superb bowling and fielding display they mustered in their win over India.
Bangladesh struggled to make any real dent in the massive run chase, and crashed to 26-4 with Lasith Malinga (3-27) and Chaminda Vaas (1-11) oozing confidence as they tore through the hesitant batting line-up.
Only Mohammad Ashraful offered any real resistance with a doughty 45 not out before Sri Lanka claimed victory by 198 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method after Bangladesh’s run chase was interrupted by rain.
Sri Lankan captain Jayawardene expressed his delight with his team’s batting performance.
”It’s good to have these guys getting a knock early in the World Cup, breaking the shackles and getting into the mood,” he said, adding that his team will now focus totally on Friday’s game against India and the two points on offer for the win.
”We’re obviously really enjoying the cricket that we’re playing right now. We have a big game in two days and we’re looking forward to it. We will take it really seriously.
”I think we’ve played some really good cricket here and we deserve to carry those two points.” — Sapa-AFP