Publications
Partners
Pallekele -Tillakaratne Dilshan hopes Sri Lanka's record-breaking surge into the World Cup quarter-finals will provide the spark for a second world title to add to the country's 1996 triumph.
The 34-year-old hit a brilliant 144 during a record World Cup first-wicket stand of 282 with Upul Tharanga (133), to lift Sri Lanka to 327-6 before taking a career-best 4-4 to help bowl Zimbabwe out for 188 on Thursday.
Sri Lanka's comfortable 139-run win lifted them to the top of Group A, with seven points from five matches, making them the first team to reach the quarter-final stages.
They play their last group game on March 18 against New Zealand in Mumbai, with Dilshan keen to keep the momentum going into the business end of the tournament.
"After March 18 we have to play our best cricket. We cannot afford to make mistakes with the quarter-final and semi-finals coming up," Dilshan said.
"We know we have qualified, but we can't take it easy for the next few matches. We have to play with 100 percent commitment from the New Zealand match."
Dilshan hopes he can be key to his country's hopes.
"I am happy with my batting and bowling," said Dilshan, who along with Tharanga, missed the record in all ODIs for an opening partnership by just four runs.
Tharanga had featured in that record stand along with Sanath Jayasuriya against England at Leeds five years ago.
"We have no regrets about missing out on the world record. What is important is that since we are playing good cricket and everything is going our way. We must keep this performance and momentum intact," said Dilshan.
"We needed a good partnership for a big total and I am happy that we provided that to the team."
Dilshan also came close to a hat-trick by dismissing Sean Ervine and Greg Lamb off successive deliveries, only for Mahela Jayawardene to drop a catch off his third ball in the slips.
Dilshan said he was unconcerned with missing out on another landmark.
"I am very happy with my performance. Missing a hat-trick with Mahela dropping a catch happens in the game. Before that ball he took a great catch and brought me closer to a hat-trick," said Dilshan.
The opener just missed Aravinda de Silva's highest World Cup score of 145 by a Sri Lankan.
"After I got out somebody told me in the dressing room that had I got one more run I would have matched that record, but I was never in the hunt for records, I always play for my team to the best of my ability," said Dilshan.
Dilshan said the whole team looked forward to playing their last group match against New Zealand in Mumbai on March 18.
"We are happy to play in Mumbai, it's a good opportunity because if we qualify for the final it's a match there before the final, so that's a good opportunity," said Dilshan.
Zimbabwe skipper Elton Chigumbura said his side had buckled under the pressure of the run chase.
"Chasing a bigger score is always hard, besides maintaining the run-rate, especially with our team. But it's something we can work on. Our openers played pretty well, and putting on a 100-plus partnership is a positive," he said.
Brendon Taylor (80) and Regis Chakabva (35) put on a solid first-wicket stand of 116, before Zimbabwe crumbled to 188 all out.
Zimbabwe, with two points after four matches, still have an outside chance of reaching the quarter-finals.
They need to win both their remaining group matches and improve their net run-rate, as well as hoping other results go in their favour.
Their last match is against Kenya on March 20.
