Bangladesh's Farhad Reza (right) is stumped by Sri Lanka's wicketkeeper, Kumar Sangakkara, during their ICC Champions Trophy cricket match in the northern Indian city of Mohali yesterday. - Reuters

MOHALI, India (AP):

OPENING BATSMAN Upul Tharanga crafted an attractive century yesterday as Sri Lanka started their qualifying campaign for the main round of the ICC Champions Trophy with a 37-run victory over Bangladesh.

Tharanga's 105 off 129 balls piloted Sri Lanka to 302 for eight off their 50 overs, and then under lights, Bangladesh were restricted to 265 for nine - their best-ever total against Sri Lanka.

Saqibul Hasan, a 19-year-old Bangladesh left-hander, fought a lone battle and top scored with an unbeaten 67 off 107 balls - his maiden half century in limited-overs cricket.

"We have set standards for the last four months, but we want to keep improving," said Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene.

"Bangladesh batted pretty well but we did not bowl well apart from the quick bowlers," he added.

Bangladesh's top-order batsmen wilted under pressure to score better than run a ball against the Sri Lankan three-pronged seam attack.

Wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara took two smart catches to get rid of openers Shahriar Nafees (five) and Mohammad Ashraful (18).

NO SUPPORT

Right-arm seamer Farveez Maharoof struck twice in the space of three deliveries to remove stroke-player Aftab Ahmed (33) and captain Habibul Bashar as Bangladesh slumped to 78 for four in the 19th over. Maharoof returned for his second spell and accounted for the wicket of Abdur Razzaq in the last over to finish with three for 47.

"We did not rotate the strike too well and kept losing wickets," said Bangladesh skipper Habibul Bashar. "Saqib is a good young player but unfortunately none of us were there to support him for long periods," he said.

Star spinner Muttiah Muralitharan took his tally of wickets in limited-overs internationals to 417 - second behind Pakistan's world record holder Wasim Akram (502) when he had Reza stumped.

Earlier, Tharanga, the 21-year-old left-hander, registered his fifth hundred in 30th limited-overs match before he was bowled by medium fast Mashrafe Mortaza in the 43rd over.

Bangladesh's seam bowlers failed to contain the strong Sri Lankan batting lineup after Bashar won the toss and elected to field first in the day-night game.

Sri Lanka, one of the two favourites to qualify for the main round of the biennial ICC Champions Trophy, got off to a strong start with opening pair Sanath Jayasuriya (31) and Tharanga laying a solid foundation of 67 runs.