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Asia Cup - 2004
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Ton-up Jayasuriya fires SL
to crushing win over BD
COLOMBO: Sanath Jayasuriya smashed an explosive 107 not out to power
Sri Lanka to an emphatic 10-wicket victory over Bangladesh in the
Asia Cup super-league match here on Friday.
The left-hander hit 11 fours in his 17th century as Sri Lanka
surpassed Bangladesh’s total of 190-9 with more than 16 overs to
spare in the day-night game to virtually make sure of qualifying for
the final.
Sri Lanka lead the four-team super league with two wins in as many
games, followed by India (1/1). Bangladesh have lost two matches and
Pakistan one. The top two teams will make it to the final.
Earlier, Bangladesh failed to post a competitive total on a slow
turning pitch after electing to bat despite a career-best 66 by
opener Mohammad Ashraful. Left-arm seamer Chaminda Vaas did the
maximum damage, finishing with 3-30 off 10 lively overs.
Jayasuriya then virtually reduced the match to a no-contest as he
put the Bangladeshi attack to the sword with a wide range of
attacking shots. He was brilliantly supported by Avishka Gunawardene,
who remained unbeaten with a solid 64.
"I had been passing through a lean patch, so it was nice to regain
form," said Jayasuriya, named Man of the Match. "Unfortunately, I
could not get many runs in the previous games. I just wanted to
occupy the crease for a long time today. I am happy to be back in
form," he added.
Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar conceded the batting had let his
team down. "We need runs from our top-order batsmen. We just did not
bat well today. I thought a total of 240-250 would have competitive
on this pitch," he said.
Bangladesh were tottering at 31-4 in the 17th over against a sharp
Sri Lankan pace attack before opener Ashraful steadied the innings
with a record 100-run stand with left-hander Manjural Islam (43).
Ashraful, 19, reached his fourth half-century when he swept seamer
Ferveez Maharoof for a four. He soon surpassed his previous best
score of 56 before being run out in the 45th over.
Ashraful’s stand with Islam was also Bangladesh’s best against Sri
Lanka for the fifth wicket, overtaking the previous highest of 90
between Tushar Imran and Khaled Mashud here two years ago. The
pair’s stand was still not good enough to test a strong Sri Lankan
batting as Jayasuriya and Gunawardene made merry against a mediocre
Bangladeshi bowling.
Jayasuriya’s knock came off just 101 balls, while Gunawardene struck
four boundaries in his 100-ball innings.
"Overall, it was a solid all-round performance," said Sri Lankan
skipper Marvan Atapattu. "It was good to see Jayasuriya back in
form. I think it was just a matter of time before he got going. We
have been playing well in this tournament and I hope we continue to
do that," Atapattu added.
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