Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara smashed unbeaten centuries as Sri Lanka posted an imposing total of 332-1 in its World Cup Pool A match against Bangladesh on Thursday.
Dilshan made the most of an early fielding error to reach 161, his third World Cup century, while Sangakkara marked his 400th one-day international with a quick-fire 105 off 76 balls in a 210-run partnership after Sri Lanka won the toss and batted on a placid Melbourne Cricket Ground wicket.
Lahiru Thirimanne (52) was the lone wicket to fall, but not before raising an attractive half century in a 122-run opening partnership with Dilshan.
Rubel Hossain (1-62) was the wicket-taker for Bangladesh, which dropped three important catches with an unimpressive fielding display in its first ever game at the MCG.
Seamer Mashrafe Mortaza was dangerous with the new ball early on, but Bangladesh wasn’t able to make a breakthrough until the 25th over when Thirimanne lifted a short Hossain delivery to Taskin Ahmed at third man.
Sri Lanka finally looked like a three-time World Cup finalist and a contender at this tournament as its top order dictated play.
Bangladesh missed opportunities right from the start, when Anamul Haque dropped Thirimanne at third slip off Mortaza with just the fourth ball of the day.
Sangakkara was also lucky to survive a dropped catch on 23 when Ahmed dived but just failed to hold onto a caught-and-bowled chance.
The veteran Sri Lankan had another reprieve while on 60 when he was dropped by Mominul Haque at point. To make matters worse, there was no body backing up for Haque’s throw to the bowler’s end and it went through for overthrows.
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World Cup 2015: Dilshan, Kumar Sangakkara tons power Sri Lanka to 332/1
