Sangakkara century lifts Sri Lanka

ADELAIDE, Australia, Feb 19, 2008 (AFP) - The class of Kumar Sangakkara once again revived Sri Lanka after a dismal start with the bat in their crucial tri-series clash with India here Tuesday.

The Sri Lankan cause wasn't helped by three runs outs, two dreadfully unlucky, but Sangakkara's polished 128 helped them recover from a disastrous six for two to make 238 for six from their 50 overs in a match they needed to win stay in the hunt for the tri-series finals.

Sangakkara struck the ball too well at times, twice freakishly running out unlucky teammates when his straight drives deflected off the bowler's hand onto the stumps at the non-striker's end.

Veteran opener Sanath Jayasuriya was the first batsman to fall in that fashion, run out from the bowling of Munaf Patel in the second over after a powerful Sangakkara drive.

Then Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, who had resurrected the Sri Lankan innings by making 71 in a 153-run partnership with Sangakkara, fell the same way with Praveen Kumar the lucky bowler.

It seemed a run out was the only way the Indians would get a wicket for most of the innings, with Chamara Kapugedera also caught out of his ground by a direct hit f