Mumbai, March 18: Skipper Kumar Sangakkara struck his first century in nearly three years as Sri Lanka recovered from a wobbly start to muster 265 for nine against New Zealand in a World Cup Group A match at the Wankhede Stadium here Friday.
Sangakkara’s last century came way back in June 2008 against Bangladesh in the Asia Cup.
Both teams have already qualified for the quarterfinals and the match will decide their positions in the Group A points table.
Sri Lanka, after electing to bat, were reeling at 19 for two after losing openers Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dishan.
Sangakkara (111) and Mahela Jayawardene (66) then rustled up 145 runs for the third wicket to steady the innings. Angelo Mathews anchored the innings towards the end with his unbeaten 35-ball 41 with four fours.
Tim Southee was the best bowler for the Black Caps with three for 63 from his 10 overs.
Tharanga fell to an unfortunate run out in the third over. He was out of his crease when a straight drive by Dilshan hit the stumps with fast bowler Southee getting a hand to the ball.
Southee soon got his second wicket two overs later when Dilshan was caught by Jacob Oram at third man.
The runs came sluggishly for Sri Lanka after the two early wickets, with the second Powerplay producing only 17 runs. But Sangakarra and Jayawardene were quick to accelerate the scoring and brought up their century partnership in 153 balls.
Sri Lanka got a reprieve at 87/2 when Jayawardene was brilliantly caught and bowled by off-spinner Nathan McCullum, who flew to his right and seemed to have got his palms underneath the ball. But Jayawardene was not convinced and the third umpire was called to see whether the catch was taken cleanly. The third umpire gave the benefit of doubt to the batsman.
New Zeland were unhappy with the decision and Nathan and Ross Taylor rushed to have a chat with the on-field umpire.
Before the match, Jayawardene had hoped to spend some time in the middle to get himself in the groove for the knockout stage and he must be happy with his effort. He played an able foil to Sangakkara, who went after the bowling. The former captain brought up his 50 off 74 balls and looked poised to go far but was trapped leg before by Southee.
His knock came in 90 balls with six fours.
Sangakarra and Mathews then scored at a furious pace and made ample use of the third Powerplay, taken in the 37th over, which leaked 45 runs.
Sangakarra came heavily on Southee and sent him for a six and two fours in the 39th over, which yielded 17 runs.
He continued in the same vein in the next over, putting his bat to Jacob Oram’s fullish delivery towards the leg for a four to reach 99 and with a single to fine leg and raised both his hands for his hundred, which came off 199 balls with 11 fours and two sixes.
He was bowled by Nathan when he tried to slog sweep.
Sangakkara’s dismissal triggerd a mini-collapse with the exception of Mathews, as the other batsmen got out cheaply.
–IANS