Kumar Sangakkara just keeps scoring runs, runs and more runs, and centuries at that at this ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.
After becoming the first ever batsman to score three consecutive centuries in World Cups, Sangakkara added another to his kitty to just edge that record further with his fourth straight century -- the first time it has ever happened in ODI cricket as well -- at the expense of Scotland.
The Bellerive Oval crowd, whatever little was there, got to witness another masterclass from Sri Lanka's batting legend, with Sangakkara picking up from where he had left off against Australia, umm and England, oh and Bangladesh to crack a fourth century at this World Cup.
Tillakaratne Dilshan also joined in the fun to smash another century – his second at this CWC -- with Sri Lanka finishing their first innings in Hobart on 363 for nine in 50 overs. The score might have been a lot more scathing, with Sri Lanka looking nailed-on to cross 400 at one point, but Scotland pulled things back brilliantly, by picking up wickets in a heap in the final 10-15 overs.
The chase was on expected lines, with Scotland never threatening the target and the only questioning being if the Sri Lanka bowlers would be able to bowl their opponents out before the end of the 50 overs.
After losing three quick wickets up front, that particular scenario looked likely, only for skipper Preston Mommsen and Freddie Coleman to put on a 118-run partnership for the fourth wicket. The alliance was not enough to raise hopes of giving the chase a real old go, but it did give Scotland plenty of respectability to the final total of 215 all out in 43.1 overs.
Once Mommsen (60, 75b, 7x4) and Coleman (70, 74b, 7x4) were dismissed the innings unravelled pretty quickly, with Sangakkara latching on to a couple of catches towards the end to go past Adam Gilchrist's record of most dismissals in World Cups.
The win also took Sri Lanka to second place in Pool A on eight points. Australia finish off against Scotland at the weekend, and should go second, while Bangladesh take on table-toppers New Zealand in their last match on Friday.
Earlier, Scotland started the match pretty well as well, restricting the openers, particularly Lahiru Thirimanne, which in turn led to the left-hander losing his wicket in the sixth over. In hindsight, Scotland would have probably hoped Thirimanne had hung around for a little while longer, as all the wicket did was bring in the ungetoutable Sangakkara to the crease.
Sangakkara (124, 95b, 13x4, 4x6) looked as comfortable at the crease as he has pretty much all tournament, and in the company of Dilshan, he smashed the Scotland attack with consummate ease, after taking his time initially.
Dilshan (104, 99b, 10x4, 1x6) and Sangakkara, who got their hundreds in consecutive deliveries, put on 195 runs for the second wicket in just 28.5 overs, and you knew the only way either would get out was by playing a false stroke. Dilshan was the first one to do that, mistiming a loft over mid-off to give Josh Davey his first wicket of the day.
Davey (8-0-63-3) would then go on and dismiss Mahela Jayawardene and Sangakkara in his next over to take back some of the Sri Lankan momentum and become the highest wicket-taker at this World Cup, only for Angelo Mathews (51, 21b, 1x4, 6x6) to crack a 20-ball fifty. But once Mathews fell, after smashing Matt Machan for four consecutive sixes, Sri Lanka lost their way a little, even if they did end up with a massive score, a score which Scotland found it beyond them to overhaul.
Get the Full Scorecard of the Match HERE
