WORLD TWENTY20, Johannesburg:
Sri Lanka 147-5 (20 overs) beat Bangladesh 83 all out (15.5 overs) by 64 runs
Sri Lanka kept alive their hopes of a place in the ICC World Twenty20 semi-finals with a 64-run victory over Bangladesh in Johannesburg.
Sri Lanka ran out comfortable winners in the end
Bangladesh's bowlers restricted Sri Lanka to just 147-5, Mahela Jayawardene hitting a run-a-ball 30.
But their batsmen never looked likely of achieving their target, after losing Mohammed Nazimuddin in the first over.
Man of the match Dilhara Fernando finished with 2-21 as Bangladesh were bowled out for just 83.
Sri Lanka's win ensures Pakistan one of the two semi-final berths from the group.
The winner between Australia and Sri Lanka in Cape Town on Thursday will take the other spot.
Both Bangladesh and Sri Lanka went into the game needing a win and the Tigers' bowlers were right on the mark from the start after winning the toss.
Sanath Jayasuriya fell for a first-ball duck when he was caught on the boundary by Mohammad Mahmudullah without scoring.
Upul Tharanga hit a brisk 23 but was removed during an inspired spell of bowling from left-arm paceman Syed Rasel, when an edge was caught between the legs of wicket-keeper Mushfiqur Rahim.
Rahim twice missed the chance to remove skipper Mahela Jayawardene, who went on to add an unconvincing 30.
Sri Lanka's total was helped by a rapid sixth-wicket partnership of 51 in the last five overs from Jehan Mubarak and Tillakaratne Dilshan.
Chaminda Vaas struck an early blow for Sri Lanka when he trapped Nazimuddin lbw for a duck and Fernando then collected the scalps of Tamim Iqbal and Aftab Ahmed.
Vaas claimed his second wicket when Mohammad Ashraful found Dilshan after adding just four.
A combination of economic bowling and good fielding ensured Bangladesh never looked like reaching their target of 148.
Jayasuriya came on to remove Mahmudullah and then completed the win by having Abdur Razzak caught by wicketkeeper Kumar Sangakkara.
Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene on Thursday's crucial tie with Australia:
"It's basically a quarter-final, it's an important game, but it's in our hands as to whether we reach the semi-finals.
"We've had a couple of hard games but we're looking forward to Australia.
"Against Bangladesh, Dilhara Fernando and Chaminda Vaas set the tone for us. We had a plan and they produced."
Bangladesh skipper Mohammad Ashraful:
"Our top order batsmen just did not do enough, from the openers down."