Bangladesh v Sri Lanka
Wisden's review of the 18th match, Bangladesh v Sri Lanka
15-Apr-2016
At Melbourne, February 26, 2015 (day/night). Sri Lanka won by 92 runs. Toss: Sri Lanka.
Anamul Haque made three grabs at an edge from Thirimanne at first slip off the fourth ball of the day, but couldn't hold on - and Bangladesh were batted out of their first appearance at the MCG. Thirimanne profited from further good fortune as he nicked between keeper and a wide slip on 22; after he was finally held at third man, with the total on 122, Sri Lanka's advance was barely impeded. Dilshan had already begun to unfurl his shots on a friendly surface; Sangakkara was fluent from the outset in his 400th one-day international, ramping his first four over the slips, and soon outstripped his partner's scoring-rate. They added 210, both stroking unbeaten hundreds. Dilshan reached his 21st in one-day internationals off 115 balls, then, despite cramp, raised the tempo, striking four fours off Taskin Ahmed in the 45th over, and finishing with Sri Lanka's highest World Cup score. Sangakkara, who was dropped on 23 and 60, completed his 22nd in the final over, off 73 balls, which made it his fastest - until three days later. Bangladesh needed 333, but Tamim Iqbal was bowled by Malinga's second delivery; though Soumya Sarkar provided some early impetus, they were soon 100 for five. Senior batsmen down the order played surer hands, but Sabbir Rahman alone passed 50, before Malinga returned to dismiss him and last man Taskin with successive balls. ANDREW FERNANDO
Man of the Match: T. M. Dilshan.
Anamul Haque made three grabs at an edge from Thirimanne at first slip off the fourth ball of the day, but couldn't hold on - and Bangladesh were batted out of their first appearance at the MCG. Thirimanne profited from further good fortune as he nicked between keeper and a wide slip on 22; after he was finally held at third man, with the total on 122, Sri Lanka's advance was barely impeded. Dilshan had already begun to unfurl his shots on a friendly surface; Sangakkara was fluent from the outset in his 400th one-day international, ramping his first four over the slips, and soon outstripped his partner's scoring-rate. They added 210, both stroking unbeaten hundreds. Dilshan reached his 21st in one-day internationals off 115 balls, then, despite cramp, raised the tempo, striking four fours off Taskin Ahmed in the 45th over, and finishing with Sri Lanka's highest World Cup score. Sangakkara, who was dropped on 23 and 60, completed his 22nd in the final over, off 73 balls, which made it his fastest - until three days later. Bangladesh needed 333, but Tamim Iqbal was bowled by Malinga's second delivery; though Soumya Sarkar provided some early impetus, they were soon 100 for five. Senior batsmen down the order played surer hands, but Sabbir Rahman alone passed 50, before Malinga returned to dismiss him and last man Taskin with successive balls. ANDREW FERNANDO
Man of the Match: T. M. Dilshan.