Bangladesh conceded a 92-run defeat against Sri Lanka in the Cricket World Cup Pool-A match at the Melbourne Cricket Ground in Australia on Thursday. Chasing a target of 333 runs to remain unbeaten in the World Cup, the Tigers were all out for 240 runs in 47 overs. Number eight batsman Sabbir Rahman scored the team highest 53 runs off 62 balls with seven fours before being caught by Sangakkara off Malinga’s delivery, leaving the team total at 240 for 9 in 46.5 overs. Bangladesh last batsman Taskin Ahmed (15) was trapped lbw by Malinga next ball. Bangladesh faced early jolt losing opener Tamim Iqbal for duck in the second ball of the very first over and also lost three other top order batsmen — Soumya Sarkar (25), Mominul Haque (1) and Anamul Haque (29) — for 48 runs in 15.1 overs. Mahmudullah (28) also failed to pair with Shakib Al Hasan in the fifth wicket stand, as he was caught by Herath off Perera’s bowling, leaving the team total 100 runs for 5 in 20.4 overs. Mushfiqur Rahim and Shakib Al Hasan endured to play a 64-run partnership in 11.1 overs in the sixth wicket stand, before Shakib was caught by Malinga off Dilshan leaving his team 164 for 6 in 31.5 overs. Shakib scored 46 runs off 59 balls with four fours and a six while Mushfiqur added 36 runs and was bowled by Lakmal with the scoreboard showing 208 for 7 in 40.2 overs. Lasith Malinga claimed three wickets for 35 runs in his nine overs spell while Tillakaratne Dilshan and Suranga Lakmal took two wickets each for 35 and 49 runs respectively, both bowled eight over each. Thisara Perera and Angelo Mathews took one wicket apiece for 33 and 36 runs respectively in 6.2 and 5.4 overs. Earlier, Sri Lanka scored a formidable 332 riding on the enduring unbeaten second wicket stand of 210 runs in 25.3 overs between the day’s two centurions Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara carried Sri Lanka’s ultimate score for 1 in 50 overs. Dilshan hammered 161 runs off 146 with 22 fours to complete his 21st ODI century and was adjudged man of the match. Dilshan reached the century mark scoring 101 runs off 115 balls with 10 fours taking 2 runs off a Shakib Al Hasan delivery when the scoreboard showing 224/1 in 40.5 overs. Sangakkara quick-fired 105 runs off 76 balls with 13 fours and the innings lone six. – –UNB, Dhaka
