 Sri Lanka enter Asia Cup finals
1st Jul 2008 08:00 IST
Agencies
A bludgeoning hundred by Sanath Jayasuriya (130), an elegant century by Kumar Sangakkara (121) and a five-wicket haul by Muttiah Muralitharan secured Sri Lanka a place in the final of the Asia Cup as they comfortably beat Bangladesh by 158 runs in their Super Four stage match at the National stadium in Karachi Monday night.
With two victories in as many matches at Super Four stage coupled with two points they carried forward from the group stage, the Defending Champions took their points tally to six.
The Sri Lankan openers slammed impressive tons en route to their record breaking 201-run first wicket partnership, which powered their team to a massive 332/8 after electing to bat on a good batting track.
Bangladeshi opener Nazimuddin (47) led a brave run chase before a suicidal run out but eventually his team was knocked out of the tournament after collapsing for 174 in 38.3 overs.
Lankan spin-wizard Muralitharan ripped through the Bangladesh middle-order, claiming five wickets.
Bangladesh, who have looked an improved lot when it comes to batting, responded with determination if not with venom but regular jolts hampered their progress.
Nazimuddin played beautifully for his 59-ball 47 before running himself out after a terrible mix up Raqibul Hasan.
Nazimuddin hit seven boundaries during his stay at the crease. He tried to steal an impossible single and squandered a solid start, leaving his team in disarray.
Hasan (52) carried his innings forward and displayed quality and improvised shots, one of which got him his half-century when he pulled one from off to hit fine-leg boundary.
However he was dismissed on the very next ball when he failed to read a Muralitharan 'doosra' and offered a simple catch to rival skipper Mahela Jayawardene at the first-slip.
Muralitharan, who began his rout with the wicket of Mushfiqur Rahim, then cleaned up Abdur Razzak and completed his five-wicket haul when he had Mashrafe Mortaza caught by Chamara Silva on the last bowl of his quota of overs.
Ajantha Mendis, who claimed the last Bangladeshi wicket in form of Farhad Reza, chipped in with two wickets.
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