Sri Lanka in Asia Cup final

Sanath Jayasuriya, celebrating his 39th birthday, and fellow opener Kumar Sangakkara smashed centuries on Monday as Sri Lanka marched into the final of the Asia Cup with a crushing 158-run victory over Bangladesh in a Super Four match.

Defending champion Sri Lanka posted an imposing 332-8 from its 50 overs and then spinner Muttiah Muralidaran grabbed 5-31 his ninth five-wicket haul in one-day internationals to bundle out Bangladesh for 174 in 38.3 overs.

Sri Lanka carried forward two points from group matches and defeated Pakistan on Sunday to take its points tally to six. It will take on India in its last Super Four match Thursday, but the points are enough for them to qualify for the July 6 final.

Bangladesh, without a point, is now out of the reckoning and will meet hosts Pakistan in its last Super Four match on Friday.

Jayasuriya celebrated his 39th birthday with an entertaining 130 off 88 balls while Sangakkara continued his supreme form with 121 off 128 deliveries – his third one-day international century in the last four matches.

"Both Sangakkara and Jayasuriya batted really well and made sure we qualify for the final and Murali (Muralidaran) was too hot for them to handle," Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena said.

"It's amazing to see that Jayasuriya's hunger for runs is still there. I am lucky to have played with him for 10 years."

Bangladesh never looked like threatening Sri Lanka's total although Raquibul Hassan made a fighting 52 off 63 deliveries and opening batsman Nazimuddin made 47.

"At one stage it looked as if we were chasing 400-plus but we pulled it back to 330 in the end," Bangladesh coach Jamie Siddons said.

"Muralidaran was too good for us today, but we batted badly and were just blasted."

Earlier, after electing to bat first, Sri Lankan hard-hitting opener Jayasuriya, a veteran of 414 one-day internationals, smashed 16 fours and six massive sixes in his 26th ODI century.

Sangakkara, who made 101 against Bangladesh in the group match and scored a match-winning 112 against Pakistan on Sunday, once again anchored the batting before he was bowled by left-arm spinner Abdur Razzak in the 45th over. Sangakkara hit 16 fours and a six.

Bangladesh's bowlers had no answer as both left-handers shared an Asia Cup record opening stand of 201 runs off 169 balls. The previous record was 191 between Avishka Gunawardene and Jayasuriya – also against Bangladesh – in the last Asia Cup at Colombo in 2004.

Bangladesh hit back late in the innings but Jayasuriya and Sangakkara had done enough damage at the top of the order to take Sri Lanka past the 300-run mark.

Jayasuriya dominated the opening partnership with his trademark hitting that included a six off paceman Mashrafe Mortaza over point and he got his half-century off 31 balls with six fours and four sixes.

His second 50 came off only 24 deliveries and included another eight fours and a six before he escaped when wicketkeeper Mushfiqur Rahim was unable to hold onto a sharp edge.

Under hot and humid conditions, Jayasuriya was eventually caught at deep cover by Tamim Iqbal in the 28th over off part-time spinner Alok Kapali.

Jayawardena (22) and Chamara Kapugedera (1) lost their wickets while hitting out and Kapali (2-40) and Farhad Reza (2-51) were the pick of the Bangladesh bowlers, while Razzak (1-71) and Mortaza (1-78) conceded over seven an over.