Sangakkara immense in Sri Lanka WC15 win

Mar 11, 2015 - 12:03 PM Sri Lanka's Kumar Sangakkara has become the first cricketer to make four successive One Day International centuries, leading his side to a thundering 148-run World Cup victory over Scotland at Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Wednesday.

All ready guaranteed a place in the quarter-finals, Sri Lanka's win puts them second in Pool A with four wins and two losses. Australia and Bangladesh still have a game to play and could overtake Sri Lanka in the Pool standings.

Against Scotland, Sangakkara produced a thrilling, at times cheeky, contribution of 124 in his team's total of 9-363.

Despite a 118-run partnership between Scotland skipper Preston Mommsen (60) and Freddie Coleman (70) the Scots were all out for 215 in the 44th over, and remain winless in their World Cup campaign.

Coleman's demise sparked a quick succession of wickets and with 10 overs remaining the Scots needed 167 runs from 60 balls.

In Scotland's innings, Sangakkara passed Adam Gilchrist (52 dismissals) at the top of the list of most dismissals by a wicket-keeper in world cup matches, with 54.

The 37-year-old Sri Lankan also passed 500 one day international dismissals.

With the bat, Sangakkara wasn't the only Sri Lankan to fire.

He teamed with Tillakaratne Dilshan (104 off 99) for a 195-run partnership for the second wicket.

And batting at No.5 captain Angelo Mathews smashed 51 off 21 balls.

The highlight of the skipper's swashbuckling knock was four successive sixes off Matt Machan (1-46) in the 44th over.

Mathews was caught by Coleman, who had earlier dropped him, as he attempted to hit a fifth six in a row off Machan.

Josh Davey took 3-63 for Scotland to take his World Cup 2015 tally to a tournament high 14.

Scotland's innings started poorly with Kyle Coetzer falling for zero in the first over leaving Scotland 1-0 two balls.

Nuwan Kulasekara (3-20) was the pick of Sri Lanka's bowlers, while Dushmantha Chameera finished with 3-51.

Sangakkara's knock was described as fantastic by teammate Lahiru Thirimanne.

"We are all privileged to share the same dressing room with him," Thirimanne told reporters after the match.

"It is fantastic he is playing so wonderfully at the moment and hopefully he continues his form in the quarter-finals."

Scotland's Kyle Coetzer admitted the team's bowlers could do nothing but be patient against the blistering batsman.

"It's impressive to watch," Coetzer said of Sangakkara's time at the crease.

"As a bowling unit you've just got to stick in there, and you just want to get one to nick away ... but obviously he's a fine player in some very fine form and any side will do well to knock him over early."

In bad news for Sri Lanka, Thirimanne confirmed that skipper Mathews will go for scans on Thursday after leaving the field with an achilles complaint.

"He's trapped up at the moment. Hopefully he will be OK."

The team has already lost five members of its squad to injury, forcing the recruitment of more players from home.

Successive ODI tons for Sangakkara

March 11 v Scotland: 124

March 8 v Australia: 104

March 1 v England: 117 not out

February 26 v Bangladesh: 105 not out

Source: AAP