Dilshan, Tharanga butcher Zimbabwean bowlers

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PALLEKELE: Sri Lankan batsmen ruthlessly punished Zimbabwean bowlers to amass a huge score of 327 runs for the loss of six wickets in a World Cup Group A match here at the Pallekele International Stadium on Thursday.

Sent into bat by Zimbabwe captain Elton Chigumbura, Sri Lankan openers Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan set a new record for a first wicket partnership at the World Cup surpassing the previous best of 194 made by Pakistan's Saeed Anwar and Wajahatullah Wasti against New Zealand at Manchester in the World Cup 1999.

The duo set the new record in 33rd over, then crossed 200 runs in 202 balls and later 250 off 249 but Tharanga fell just five runs short of the world record for the highest opening partnership of 286, set by himself with Sanath Jayasuriya against England at Leeds in 2006.

However, this is the fourth-highest stand for any wicket in a one-day international.

This is also a rare incident that both openers made centuries in a World Cup innings.

Tharanga was eventually out for 133, his career-best, from 141 balls with 17 fours. He was caught by Elton Chigumbura off Chris Mpofu in the 45th over.

Dilshan followed shortly afterwards, caught by Chigumbura off Prosper Utseya. He hit 144 off 131 balls with 16 fours and a six.

Later, Sri Lanka lost four more wickets in an effort to make quick runs and finished on 327-6 in the allotted 50 overs.

A victory for the co-hosts in this match will guarantee them a quarter-final place.