SL whitewash Eng with 8 wkts in hand

Jayasuriya and Tharanga produced the most spectacular opening partnership in ODI history to complete Lanka's 5-0 series whitewash.

Published on: Jul 2, 2006, 01:50:00 IST

None | By Anonymous, London

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Sanath Jayasuriya and Upul Tharanga produced the most spectacular opening partnership in one-day history to complete Sri Lanka's 5-0 series whitewash over England on Saturday.

Set a formidable 322 to win the fifth one-day international at Headingley, the pair hit explosive centuries to put on 286 and make a nonsense of the target.

Sri Lanka cruised home by eight wickets with more than 12 overs to spare.

The Sri Lankan openers' extraordinary exhibition of clean, effortless hitting was a record opening stand in one-day internationals.

Jayasuriya, one day after his 37th birthday, ended with 152 off 99 balls, his 21st one-day international hundred and one of the great limited over innings.

The 21-year-old Tharanga, only slightly less brutal than his team mate, claimed his fourth ton with 109 off 102 deliveries. It was also Sri Lanka's best one-day run chase and sealed England's first 5-0 series whitewash.

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