By IANS,
Pallekele (Sri Lanka) : Sri Lanka’s Upul Tharanga and Tillakaratne Dilshan set a Word Cup record for the first wicket as they struck a 282-run partnership during their Group A match against Zimbabwe.
The other highlights:
* The stand is the first double century stand for the first wicket at the World Cup, eclipsing the 194 between Saeed Anwar and Wajahatullah Wasti for Pakistan against New Zealand at Manchester on June 16, 1999.
* Tharanga and Dilshan have become the most successful opening pair at the 2011 World Cup, having posted one double century stand and three fifty-plus in just five outings – 499 in five innings at an average of 99.80.
* Tharanga and Dilshan have registered six century stands for the first wicket in ODIs, joining two other Sri Lankan pairs – Marvan Atapattu and Sanath Jayasuriya (eight) and Romesh Kaluwitharana and Sanath Jayasuriya (six).
* Dilshan (144 off 131 balls) recorded his highest innings at the World Cup – his maiden century, bettering the 58 against South Africa at Providence on March 28, 2007.
* Tharanga (133 off 141 bals) registered his career-best innings in ODIs, obliterating the 120 against England at Lord’s on June 17,2006.
* Tharanga and Dilshan provided the first ever instance of both openers registering hundreds in the same World Cup innings. Overall, this is the 22nd in ODIs.
* Dilshan’s knock is the second highest for Sri Lanka at the World Cup – the highest is 145 by Aravinda de Silva against Kenya at Kandy on March 6, 1996.
* Dilshan’s double of 144 and four for four is the best all-round feat in the history of the World Cup. He is the second all-rounder to register a century and bag four wickets in an innings in a World Cup game, the first being Feiko Kloppenburg – 121 off 142 balls and four for 42 against Namibia at Bloemfontein on March 3, 2003.
* For the first time, two players recorded hundreds in a World Cup game for Sri Lanka. This is for the eighth time in the World Cup when two batsmen have posted hundreds in the same innings.
* The 282-run stand is Sri Lanka’s best for any wicket at the World Cup, obliterating the 183 (twice) – both for the third wicket – Asanka Gurusinha and Aravinda de Silva recorded against Kenya at Kandy on March 6, 1996 and Sanath Jayasuriya and Mahela Jayawardene recorded against the West Indies at Providence on April 1, 2007.
* Sri Lanka’s 139-run triumph is their biggest over Zimbabwe at the World Cup, bettering the 74-run victory at East London on March 15, 2003.
* The win is Sri Lanka’s fifth biggest in terms of runs at the World Cup – the biggest being by 243 runs over Bermuda at Port of Spain on March 15, 2007.
* With their splendid win, Sri Lanka have won all their five World Cup matches against Zimbabwe.
* Sri Lanka have become the second team after India to earn seven points at the 2011 World Cup.
* Brendan Taylor (80 off 72 balls) has recorded his highest innings at the World Cup, his second fifty, surpassing the 50 against West Indies at Kingston on March 19, 2007.
* Taylor’s second half-century at the World Cup is his 21st in ODIs.
* Angelo Matthews registered his best World Cup bowling performance.
* Chris Mpofu (4/62) recorded his best World Cup performance, surpassing the 2 for 58 against Ireland at Kingston on March 15, 2007.
* Mpofu’s figures are the best for Zimbabwe against Sri Lanka at the World Cup. The only Zimbabwean bowler to capture five wickets in a World Cup game is Paul Strang – 5 for 21 against Kenya at Patna on February 27, 1996.