‘Brilliant’ Tillakaratne Dilshan, 161, and Kumar Sangakkara, 105, carry Sri Lanka over Bangladesh

The pair of centuries from Sri Lanka's pair of aging stars on Thursday propelled them to a 92-run thumping of Bangladesh at the 2015 Cricket World Cup.

Sri Lanka's Tillakaratne Dilshan celebrates with Kumar Sangakkara during their win against Bangladesh at the 2015 Cricket World Cup on Thursday in Melbourne. Mal Fairclough / AFP / February 26, 2015

Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews hailed century makers Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kumar Sangakkara as "brilliant" after they lifted the 1996 champions to a 92-run win over Bangladesh on Thursday.

Dilshan smashed an unbeaten 161 off 146 balls – the ninth highest score in World Cup history – while Sangakkara marked his 400th one-dayer with 105 not out as Sri Lanka battered butter-fingered Bangladesh at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

Sri Lanka piled up 332 for 1 that proved too much for Bangladesh, who folded up for 240 with three overs to spare.

“Dilshan and Sangakkara were brilliant, they batted us through, took calculated risks and it was a great effort by the three batters,” said Mathews, also reserving praise for opener Lahiru Thirimanne for his 52.

“We were slightly sloppy in the field and could have done better, but once you’ve got 300 on the board your bowlers can take chances. We’re all ready for the England game,” added Mathews in reference to their next Pool A game in Wellington on Sunday.

Sri Lanka have four points from three games while Bangladesh have three with both sides in the top four in the group and well-placed for a quarter-final slot.

“Our bowlers weren’t up to the mark and hopefully in the next match we will improve,” said Bangladesh skipper Mashrafe Mortaza.

“Dilshan and Sangakkara played well and showed their character today. I hope our next game will be our best in the tournament.”

Bangladesh next face Scotland in Nelson next Thursday.

Dilshan said he was relieved to be back in the runs after being dismissed off the first ball against Afghanistan last time out.

“I am really happy with today’s innings after getting out first ball in the last game,” said Dilshan, named man of the match.

The 38-year-old, who made his ODI debut back in 1999, added: “I am enjoying my cricket and when I cross the line I don’t think about my age.

“I dropped a catch and it is all a part of the game.

“But I am happy with our performance and we are getting back to a rhythm. This was a good game for us before we move on to the bigger games.”

Sri Lanka, who were dismissed for 233 by New Zealand and then struggled to chase down Afghanistan’s 232, finally came good with the bat after electing to take first strike.

Sri Lanka were helped along by a shoddy fielding display by Bangladesh, whose maiden appearance at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground was marred by five missed chances.

Dilshan put on 122 for the first wicket with Thirimanne and an undefeated 210 for the second with Sangakkara, who added two catches and a stumping to his 22nd one-day century.

Sangakkara, 37, became only the fourth cricketer – and the third Sri Lankan after Sanath Jayasuriya (445) and current teammate Mahela Jayawardene (444) – to play 400 one-day internationals.

The list is headed by retired Indian star Sachin Tendulkar with 463 ODIs.

Dilshan compiled one-day cricket’s highest individual that did not contain a six – he hit 22 fours – as he anchored the innings to carry his bat in front of some 30,000 spectators.

Left-handed Thirimanne survived three missed chances in his half-century which followed his 65 in the tournament opener against New Zealand.

Anamul Haque spilled a waist-high catch in the first over off Bangladesh captain Mortaza, who then had an edge go past the wicketkeeper and first slip when Thirimanne was on 22.

The batsman moved to 44 when Mushfiqur Rahim missed a stumping off Sabbir Rahman, but Thirimanne’s luck ran out as an airy cut off seamer Rubel Hossain was snapped up by third man.

Sangakkara had made only 23 when he top-edged a short ball from Taskin Ahmed, but the ball spilled out of the bowler’s hand as he dived forward to hold the catch.

Sangakkara completed his 94th one-day 50 by sweeping Shakib Al Hasan for his eighth boundary, but escaped a second time soon after when Mominul Haque dropped a catch at point off Rubel.

The 37-year-old reached his century in the final over to complete a total domination by the Sri Lankan batsmen of the Bangladeshi attack.

Bangladesh lost flamboyant opener Tamim Iqbal off the second ball, bowled by Lasith Malinga, and slipped to 41 for 3 by the seventh over.

Anamul’s misery in Melbourne mounted when, after making a stroke-filled 29, he charged down the wicket for a non-existent single and was run out by a direct throw from Sri Lankan captain Mathews.

Rahman top-scored with 53 and Shakib made 46 during a sixth-wicket stand of 64 with Rahim, but their effort came too late to cause a dramatic change of fortunes for Bangladesh.

Malinga finished with three wickets, with Suranga Lakmal and Dilshan claiming two each.

Sri Lanka brought in batsman Dinesh Chandimal in place of all-rounder Jeevan Mendis, who was ruled out of the tournament with a hamstring injury.

Bangladesh retained the same side that defeated Afghanistan in their first game. Their match against co-hosts Australia was washed out.

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