Sangakkara shines against Kiwis

MUMBAI, Mar18 (AFP): Kumar Sangakkara led from the front to hit a fine 111 as Sri Lanka posted 265-9 in Friday's World Cup clash against New Zealand which was marred by an unsavoury catch controversy. The Sri Lankan skipper also put on 145 runs for the third wicket with his deputy Mahela Jayawardene (66) to pull his team out of early trouble in the day-night match at the Wankhede Stadium. The two teams have already made it to the quarter-finals and the result of this game will determine their final Group A positions. Sri Lanka lost opener Upul Tharanga early when he was run out in the third over after Sangakkara won the toss and elected to bat in hot and humid conditions. Tharanga backed up too far and Tim Southee (3-63) managed to get his hand to a straight drive from Tillakaratne Dilshan before the ball rolled on to hit the stumps. Dilshan followed his partner to the pavilion soon, lobbing a simple catch to Jacob Oram off Southee while trying to go for an ambitious shot on the leg side, plunging Sri Lanka to 19-2.