Ton-up Tharanga sinks Bangladesh

An Upul Tharanga ton aided Sri Lanka to a winning start in the ICC Champions Trophy in a high scoring game against Bangladesh.

Tharanga compiled 105 in 125 balls as the joint winners of the 02/03 tournament compiled 302 in their fifty overs.

Tharanga and veteran opener Sanath Jayasuria got Sri Lanka off to a solid start, putting on 67 for the first wicket before Syed Rasal struck Jayasuria on the pads and got the decision. That only brought Mahela Jayawardene to the crease, though. The Sri Lankan captain struck 35 off just 24 balls to pile the pressure on Bangladesh’s bowlers.

He fell to Abdur Razzak, but his good work was continued by Kumar Sangakkara (22) and Marvan Atapattu (40), who both put on quick partnerships of over 50 with Tharanga to put Sri Lanka firmly in the drivers seat.

Tharanga eventually fell, bowled heaving at Mashrafe Mortaza, but the Sri Lankan lower order provided an extra late flurry. Forty runs were scored off the last 33 balls to nudge Sri Lanka past the 300 mark.

Bangladesh have only beaten Sri Lanka once, and many would have expected them to collapse in the face of such a large total. After Shariar Nafees edged Chaminda Vaas behind for 5, it looked like that was going to happen. However, Saqibul Hasan’s fighting 69, backed up by some lusty hitting fromAftab Ahmed (33), Farhad Reza (34), Mashrafe Mortaza (30) and Abdur Razzak (21) proved that Bangladesh can compete. However, at the end of the day, Bangladesh couldn’t get on top of Sri Lankas bowlers enough to reach 300.

Sri Lanka 302-9
Upul Tharanga 105, Marvan Atapattu 40
Abdur Razzak 2-49, Syed Rasal 2-65

Sri Lanka won by 37 runs

Bangladesh 265-9
Saqibul Hasan 69, Farhad Reza 34
Farveez Maharoof 3-47, Chaminda Vaas 2-46