Sri Lanka breeze into final

Openers Kumar Sangakkara and Sanath Jayasuriya both hit hundreds and added 201

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Sanath Jayasuriya and Kumar Sangakkara hit peerless tons and Muttiah Muralitharan grabbed five wickets as Sri Lanka booked their place in the final of the Asia Cup with a 158-run victory over Bangladesh.

Jayasuriya blazed to his 26th ODI century in typically bullish fashion, top scoring with 130 off just 88 deliveries, while Sangakkara held the Sri Lankan innings together with a solid 121 as Sri Lanka piled on 332 for eight after opting to bat first.

Muralitharan then carved through the Bangladesh order, allowing just 31 runs from 10 overs as the Sri Lankans bossed the Super Four encounter in Karachi.

Bangladesh eventually perished under the weight of an ever-increasing required run rate despite the valiant efforts of Raqibul Hasan (52) and Mohammed Nazimuddin (47).

The centuries hit by Sri Lanka's opening duo could not have been achieved in more contrasting fashion.

Jayasuriya started with a boundary off the very first delivery and thereafter never let the momentum drop, reaching his ton in just 55 deliveries.

At the other end, Sangakkara was just as effective, albeit far more composed and cautious.

He achieved his century in 117 deliveries, but picked up the strike rate significantly after reaching the milestone as he went on to make 121 off 128 balls.

Bangladesh's bowlers had little respite early on, but a flurry of late wickets offered consolation, if little hope.

The departure of Jayasuriya triggered a collapse of sorts, with skipper Mahela Jayawardene (20), Chamara Kapugedera (one), Chamara Silva (five), Tilekaratne Dilshan (two) and Chaminda Vaas (seven) all being dismissed cheaply.

A late flourish from tail-ender Nuwan Kulasekara (18) saved Sri Lanka from the ignominy of being bowled out within 50 overs.

The total, however, was always well beyond the Bangladeshis, who saw just three of their batsmen reach double figures, Hasan and Nazimuddin joined by Mohammad Ashraful (14) as the only players to take the fight to their opponents as Bangladesh were dismissed inside 39 overs.

Sri Lanka will face either hosts Pakistan or India in Sunday’s final.