KARACHI: Muttiah Muralitharan picked up his first five-wicket haul in four years to lead Sri Lanka into the final of the Asia Cup tournament after a crushing 158-run win over Bangladesh yesterday.
Muralitharan’s five for 31 came on the heels of centuries from man of the match Sanath Jayasuriya, celebrating his 39th birthday, and Kumar Sangakkara. The Sri Lankan pair put on a record opening partnership of 201.
Muralitharan, who last took five wickets in April 2004 against Zimbabwe in Harare, helped dismiss Bangladesh for 174 in 38.3 overs after Sri Lanka had hit 332 for eight in their 50 overs.
Bangladesh were unable to put up a fight after their bowlers were belted by Jayasuriya, who hit a quickfire 130 from 88 balls, and Sangakkara (121), who scored his third century of the tournament. The two left-handers set an Asia Cup record for an opening partnership, their 201 runs bettering the 191 put together by Jayasuriya and Avish Gunawardene against Bangladesh in 2004.
It was Sri Lanka’s fourth win in the competition and put them in the final against either India or Pakistan.
Birthday man Jayasuriya became the second-oldest player to score a hundred in one-day internationals after England’s Geoffrey Boycott, who made a century against Australia in Sydney in 1979 at the age of 39 years and 51 days.
Jayasuriya struck the 26th century of his career from only 55 balls, with 14 fours and five sixes. He was out in the 28th over, caught at deep extra cover by Tamim Iqbal off leg spinner Alok Kapali. It was his fourth hundred against Bangladesh.
Sangakkara fell in the 45th over, his 121 compiled from 128 balls with 16 fours and one six. It was the 10th hundred of his career.
Bangladesh wilted under the pressure and they had only two partnerships of substance. Opener Nazimuddin made 47 from 59 balls, hitting seven fours and one six, and Raquibul Hasan top scored with 52 from 63 balls. Nazim put on 43 with Mohammad Ashraful (14) and a further 43 for the third wicket with Hasan, who made his fourth 50.
Bangladesh lost five wickets for 62 in a middle-order slump and lost their last eight wickets for 78 runs.
Opener Tamim Iqbal (10) was caught behind by stand-in wicketkeeper Dilshan off Chaminda Vaas, while Ashraful edged Thilan Mirando behind.
Nazim was the third to go, run out by a throw from square leg, after which Muralitharan got into the act, dismissing Mushfiqur Rahim, Kapali, Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza and Abdul Razzak in quick succession.
Hasan went after making his fourth half-century from 63 balls when he was caught at slip by Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene.
