Muttiah Muralitharan picked up his first five-wicket haul in four years to lead Sri Lanka into the final of the Asia Cup Championship after a crushing 158-run win over Bangladesh on Monday. Muralitharan's five for 31 came on the heels of centuries from Man of the Match Sanath Jayasuriya, celebrating his 39th birthday, and Kumar Sangakkara. The Sri Lankan pair put on a record opening partnership of 201. Muralitharan, who last took five wickets in April 2004 against Zimbabwe in Harare, helped dismiss Bangladesh for 174 in 38.3 overs after Sri Lanka had hit 332 for eight in their 50 overs. Bangladesh was unable to put up a fight after their bowlers were belted by Jayasuriya, who hit a quickfire 130 from 88 balls, and Sangakkara (121), who scored his third century of the tournament. The two left-handers set an Asia Cup record for an opening partnership, their 201 runs bettering the 191 put together by Jayasuriya and Avish Gunawardene against Bangladesh in 2004. It was Sri Lanka's fourth win in the competition and put them in the final against either India or Pakistan. Birthday man Jayasuriya became the second-oldest player to score a hundred in one-day internationals after England's Geoffrey Boycott, who made a century against Australia in Sydney in 1979 at the age of 39 years and 51 days. Jayasuriya struck the 26th century of his career from only 55 balls, with 14 fours and five sixes. He was out in the 28th over, caught at deep extra cover by Tamim Iqbal off leg spinner Alok Kapali. It was his fourth hundred against Bangladesh. “It is absolutely amazing to watch Sanath play, he has shown he still has the hunger for runs,” Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jaywardene told reporters. “Muri was too hot to handle for the Bangladesh batsmen and it is good to see him come into form at the end of the tournament.” Sangakkara fell in the 45th over, his 121 compiled from 128 balls with 16 fours and one six. It was the 10th hundred of his career. Sangakkara was sixth out at 292. Bangladesh did well to restrict the Lanka total when it captured quick wickets after the departure of captain Mahela Jayawardene, who was caught by Ashraful off Kapali for 20. Chamara Kapugedera (1), Chamara Silva (5) and Dilshan (2) fell in quick succession for the addition of just 31 runs as Sri Lanka collapsed to 267 for five. Bangladesh wilted under the pressure and it had only two partnerships of substance. Opener Nazimuddin made 47 from 59 balls, hitting seven fours and one six, and Raquibul Hasan top scored with 52 from 63 balls. Nazim put on 43 with Mohammad Ashraful (14) and a further 43 for the third wicket with Hasan, who made his fourth 50. Bangladesh lost five wickets for 62 in a middle-order slump and lost its last eight wickets for 78 runs. Opener Tamim Iqbal (10) was caught behind by stand-in wicketkeeper Dilshan off Chaminda Vaas, while Ashraful edged Thilan Mirando behind. Nazim was the third to go, run out by a throw from square leg, after which Muralitharan got into the act, dismissing Mushfiqur Rahim, Kapali, Hasan, Mashrafe Mortaza and Abdul Razzak in quick succession. Hasan went after making his fourth half-century from 63 balls when he was caught at slip by Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene.
