Another Bangla run-fest for Jayasuriya

Sanath Jayasuriya rode to his 24th ODI hundred, and along the way claimed the record for the most number of sixes too

21-Mar-2007

Bangladesh had pulled off a fantastic upset win against India, but versus the Sri Lankans they were completely outclassed, beaten by 198 runs. A look at the stats highlights from the game.

Sanath Jayasuriya clobbered his third hundred against Bangladesh, and his 24th in all ODIs © Getty Images

Sanath Jayasuriya has always enjoyed shredding the Bangladesh attack, and it was no different at Port-of-Spain. Jayasuriya blasted an 87-ball 109, his third hundred against them in 14 innings. He now averages 60.08 against Bangladesh.

This was Jayasuriya's 24th ODI century, which puts him in second place in the list of all-time centurions. Only Sachin Tendulkar, with 41, has scored more hundreds, while Ricky Ponting is in third place with 23. (Click here for the list of highest century-makers in ODIs.)

Along the way, he also set the record for the most number of sixes in ODIs. Tied with Shahid Afridi at 224 before the game began, Jayasuriya smashed seven sixes in his hundred today to take his tally to 231. Shahid Afridi, on the other hand, managed just one six in his innings against Zimbabwe. (Click here for the full list.) Twenty of those sixes have been struck in World Cup matches, which makes him the leading six-hitter for Sri Lanka in all editions of the tournament. Aravinda de Silva comes in next with 15. Jayasuriya's seven in an innings is also the second-highest in a World Cup innings. Ricky Ponting hammered eight sixes in the 2003 finals, a feat equalled by Imran Nazir in today's match against Zimbabwe.

Sri Lanka's opening partnership, which has been such a strength in recent times, came to fore again. They were put in on a pitch which offered some early seam and swing, but Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga neutralised the advantage Bangladesh had at the toss with a superb 98-run stand. They now average 53.40 for the first wicket in the 27 innings in which they have opened together, with nine fifty-plus partnerships.

Sri Lanka and Pakistan both scored more than 300 today, which takes the tally of 300-plus totals in this World Cup to eight. In the entire 2003 edition, only nine such totals were scored.

Sri Lanka and Australia have both scored more than 300 in successive matches in this tournament, making it the first World Cup in which two teams have managed this feat. Only twice has this happened in the eight previous tournaments - England managed it in 1983 (against New Zealand and Sri Lanka), while India repeated it in 1999 (against Kenya and Sri Lanka).

While Sri Lanka had plenty to celebrate, nothing went right for Bangladesh. Most of their bowlers suffered, but the one who felt the heat the most was Abdur Razzaq, one of three left-arm spinners in the Bangladesh side. While Mohammad Rafique and Saqibul Hasan conceded less than 50, Razzaq was thrashed for 86 in his ten overs, which is the most expensive ten-over spell by a Bangladesh bowler. The earlier record was with Nazmul Hossain, who leaked 83 against England at Trent Bridge in 2005.

The only Bangladesh batsman who resisted was Mohammad Ashraful, who remained unbeaten on 45 and scored 40% of his team's runs. It's the highest percentage of runs scored by a No.7 batsman in a World Cup match.

Abdur Razzak Sanath Jayasuriya Sri Lanka Bangladesh Sri Lanka vs Bangladesh ICC World Cup