Sangakkara, Dilshan set up Sri Lanka's 148-run win

Hobart, March 11, 2015: Kumar Sangakkara (95-ball 124) became the first batsman to record four consecutive hundreds in One-Day International (ODI) cricket as Sri Lanka thrashed Scotland by 148 runs in a World Cup Pool A game at the Bellerive Oval here on Wednesday. Continuing his good form, Sangakkara, 37, once again showed his master class and registered his 25th ODI ton. In the process, he also became the first batsman to score four centuries in a World Cup. Seasoned opener Tilakaratne Dilshan (104) stroked to his 22nd ODI century and combined with Sangakkara to forge a 195-run partnership for the second wicket. It helped them post an imposing 363/9 in 50 overs. In reply, Scotland were bowled out for 215 in 43.1 overs and slumped to their fifth consecutive loss. Skipper Preston Mommsen (60) and Freddie Coleman (70) shared a 118-run stand for the third wicket to put up some resistance but it was not enough. Seamers Nuwan Kulasekara (3/20), Dushmantha Chameera (3/51) and Lasith Malinga (2/29) were all over Scotland. Thisara Perera and Dilshan picked a wicket each. With this win, Sri Lanka jumped to second spot in Pool A on the back of four wins in six matches. New Zealand are on top with 10 points from five matches, while Australia have seven points from five matches. But they will face Scotland and are expected to finish second. If that happens, Sri Lanka will drop to third place and will hope that New Zealand beat Bangladesh that will result in the Tigers finishing fourth and face Pool B table toppers India in the quarter-finals. Earlier, coming in at the fall of left-handed opener Lahiru Thirimanne (4) with the team only at 21/1 in the sixth over, Sangakkara and Dilshan batted with aplomb. They were hardly troubled by the Scotland bowlers and maintained a very good run rate. They reached 71 in 15 overs. While Dilshan reached his fifty in 54 balls, Sangakkara scored his half-century in 56 balls. They upped the ante after getting past the halfway mark.