Led by Kumar Sangakkara and Tillakaratne Dilshan’s centuries Sri Lanka beat Scotland by 148 runs in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 Match 35 at the Bellerive Oval in Hobart on Wednesday. With this win, Sri Lanka have moved to number two spot in the Group A Points table, while Scotland continue to look for their maiden world cup win. Much on expected lines, the contest was a one-sided affair.

Kumar Sangakkara is playing one long innings. He isn’t starting afresh every match. He is resuming from where he had finished in the previous one. Without playing a single outlandish stroke, without having to risk his wicket, he stroked his way to a fine century at better than run a ball.

He matched Tillakaratne  Dishan shot-for-shot and brought up his 25th One-Day International (ODI) ton just a ball after the opener reached the three-figure landmark. In the process, he broke the record of most consecutive centuries in ODIs (4) and also became the first batsman to score four centuries in a single world cup.

Earlier in the day, Sri Lanka skipper Angelo Mathews won the toss and elected to bat. Scotland’s new-ball pair of Rob Taylor and Alasdair Evans posed some trouble to Sri Lankan openers Dilshan and Lahiru Thirimanne with the swing. The left-hander, especially, looked scratchy against them.

Evans got the early breakthrough for Sri Lanka as Thirimanne looked to play a drive to an away going delivery, but ended up getting an outside edge. The slip fielder pouched the catch safely to send the batsman to the dressing room.

However, the old men had united for yet another resurrection campaign. Dilshan and Sangakkara combined to take the innings out of Scotland’s grasp. The duo added 195 runs off 173 balls for the third wicket. They pierced the ball through gaps and smothered the ball for boundaries to leave the cottish bowlers and fielders helpless.

Scotland bowlers were left with little to cheer. No maiden overs, no ball beating the bat. It was pure annihilation without the slogs and mishits. Both were dismissed soon after they reached their respective centuries. From there, began a procession of wickets. Mahela Jayawardene, Kusal Perera, Thisara Perera, Seekkuge Prasanna and Lasith Malinga – all perished without contributing substantially.

Sri Lanka lost their last eight wickets in the space of 75 balls. At a point, it looked that Sri Lanka will be bowled out before their allotted 50 overs. The only consolation in the last 10 overs for Sri lanka was a breezy 21-ball by the skipper. It was the second fastest half-century in the world cup and included four consecutive sixes. Sri Lanka eventually managed to reach 363 for nine in 50 overs.

Scotland were never in the chase, losing the wicket of inform batsman Kyle Coetzer in the first over. Skipper Preston Mommsen and Freddie Coleman tried to put their chase back on track with half-centuries. But the batting collapsed following their dismissal.

(India.com)