Lanka beat Zimbabwe to enter quarterfinals

Colombo, March 10: Sri Lanka established a thumping win over Zimbabwe as they reduced the minnows to 188 runs all out in only 39 overs in their World Cup Group A clash in Pallekele on Thursday. Openers Brendan Taylor (80) and Regis Chakabva (35) gave a strong start to lead the minnows fight back against the mighty Lankans. However, the pressure started telling on the Zimbabweans as they started losing quick wickets to the Lankans bowlers. Dilshan was the pick of the bowlers who claimed 4 wickets in his three overs.

Earlier, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Upul Tharanga conjured an exquisite display of shotmaking to score a World Cup record 282 runs for the first wicket as Sri Lanka set Zimbabwe a daunting 328-run victory target. While Ireland's Kevin O'Brien and New Zealand's Ross Taylor had brought the tournament alight by whacking sixes during their tons earlier this month, the Sri Lankan pair were much more sedate in their approach and astonishingly their stand featured only one hit over the ropes - courtesy of Dilshan.

Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura's gamble to field first on a placid track backfired spectacularly as the two openers batted without giving the Africans a sniff of a chance during the first 44 overs, helping Sri Lanka to amass 327-6. Zimbabwe were sent on a leather hunt as Dilshan cracked 16 fours and a six in his knock of 144 off 131 balls, while Tharanga played the supporting role. He made 133 off 141 balls with 17 fours as the pair sent the fielders scurrying all over the ground in their Group A match.

Dilshan was the first to reach three figures and once he had steered the ball away to set off for a single, he flashed his teeth, pumped his arms and let out an almighty roar as he notched up his first World Cup century in the 31st over. It was not long before Tharanga also brought the delirious crowd to their feet with his ton but just when it looked as if the openers would carry their bats through the innings, they fell in successive overs.

Chris Mpofu struck to remove Tharanga when the Sri Lankan's lofted effort over extra cover landed in the hands of Chigumbura. Dilshan fell in an almost identical fashion as he charged down the track to Prosper Utseya but was caught at deep midwicket by Tinashe Panyangara. Sri Lanka slumped from 282-0 to 308-6 when the co-hosts tried to accelerate their run rate. Mpofu capitalised on some cheap wickets towards the end to finish with four for 62.

The previous World Cup opening-stand record was held by Pakistan's Saeed Anwar and Wajahatullah Wasti made in the 1999 World Cup semi-final against New Zealand.