Sri Lanka break one-day record in ODI against Netherlands

Amstelveen, Holland, July 4 (UNI) Sri Lanka today erased the four month old world record of highest one-day total plundering 443 against minnows Netherlands here today.

Four days after battering England into submission at Headingley, the Lankans went past the mark of 438 set on March 12 by South Africa against Australia at Johannesburg where both teams went past 400.

Veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya led the way with a turbo-charged 157 off 104 balls while Tillakaratne Dilshan flayed the bowling with an equally crazy 117 off 79 balls.

The Lankans set the new record in the final over and lost nine wickets in the process.

The Lankan innings began at an electric pace and when Kumar Sangakkara fell in the 28th over -- following a stand of 149 with Jayasuriya -- the score was already 237.

After Jayasuriya departed falling to Mohammed Kashif, Dilshan took up the charge and crashed boundaries to every corner of the ground. When the eighth wickets fell, the Lankans still needed 30, but Dilhara Fernando managed to stay with Dilshan to push Sri Lanka to the new record.

In reply, Netherlands were 79 for two after 10 overs.

Brief scores: Sri Lanka 443 for 9 (Jayasuriya 157, Dilshan 117 not out; Stelling 2-77, RN Ten Doeschate 2-51) UNI XC PDS RK2006