Lanka thrash Bangla by 131 runs Lahore,

Lanka thrash Bangla by 131 runs Lahore,

June 25 (Agencies): Chasing a huge Sri Lankan total of 357, Bangladesh could manage only 226 for seven in their alloted overs to suffer a 131-run defeat. Mohammad Ashraful was left to rue his decision at the toss - on the sort of pitch where they had piled 300-plus the previous day, Bangladesh decided to field first and paid a heavy price as Sri Lanka, fired by some superb top-order batting by Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya, piled a massive target before inflicting a heavy defeat. Chasing an insurmountable target, Bangladesh never seemed like waging a battle although a fourth-wicket stand of 78 between Mushfiqur Rahim and Raqibul Hasan played a major hand in delaying the inevitable. For a while the duo played with patience, character even tackled smartly the spin of Ajantha Mendis and Muttiah Muralitharan. But eventually, Muralitharan got the better of their grit, effectively ending the Bangladesh fight. Earlier the responsibility, once again, fell on Ashraful to play the multiple role of anchor, hustler and finisher. Yesterday, Ashraful had scored a composed century. Today, after his top edge was spilled by Jayasuriya, Ashraful went for a brash pull against a short ball from Dilhara Fernando. The umpire Simon Taufel thought the ball had brushed his gloves but the batsman started his walk with disbelief. SCORECARDSri Lanka: Jayasuriya b Abdur Razzak 72, Sangakkara c Tamim Iqbal b Mahmudullah 101, Jayawardene b Abdur Razzak 6, Kapugedera c Mashrafe Mortaza b Abdur Razzak 74, Silva c Mushfiqur Rahim b Alok Kapali 19, Dilshan c Tamim Iqbal b Mashrafe Mortaza 29, Vaas c Tamim Iqbal b Mashrafe Mortaza 13, Kulasekara c Mohammad Ashraful b Shahadat Hossain 1 3, Mendis not out 15, Muralitharan c Mohammad Ashraful b Shahadat Hossain 5, Fernando not out 0. Extras (lb 4, w 18) 22. Total (9 wickets; 50 overs) 357. Fall of wickets: 1-116), 2-170, 3-211, 4-264, 5-303, 6-330, 7-336, 8-337, 9-347. Bowling: Mashrafe Mortaza 10-0-53-2, Shahadat Hossain 7-0-62-2, Dolar Mahmud 3-0-49-0, Mahmudullah 10-0-62-1, Abdur Razzak 10-0-55-3, Alok Kapali 10-0-72-1Bangladesh: Tamim Iqbal b Kulasekara 28, Nazimuddin c Sangakkara b Vaas 1, Mohammad Ashraful c Sangakkara b Fernando 8, Raqibul Hasan st Sangakkara b Muralitharan 35, Mushfiqur Rahim c & b Muralitharan 44, Alok Kapali c Jayasuriya b Silva 30, Mahmudullah b Jayasuriya 4, Mashrafe Mortaza not out 34, Abdur Razzak not out 22. Extras (b 4, lb 6, w 8, nb 2) 20, Total (7 wickets; 50 overs) 226. Fall of wickets1-5, 2-35, 3-48, 4-126, 5-135, 6-142, 7-177. Bowling Vaas 6-1-16-1, Kulasekara 7-0-33-1, Fernando 8-0-53-1, Mendis 10-1-34-0, M Muralitharan 10-0-37-2, Jayasuriya 5-0-22-1, Silva 4-1-21-1.