Undeterred by a hamstring pull, the swashbuckling batsman blasted 109 off 87 deliveries as Sri Lanka posted 318 for 4 in the Group B match.

The 37-year-old opener, playing his fifth World Cup, retired hurt on 83 but returned to complete a superb century that brought back memories of his pinch-hitting exploits as an opener when Sri Lanka won the World Cup triumph in 1996.

In hitting seven sixes and as many boundaries during his time at the wicket he treated the Bangladesh bowlers with complete disdain.

The veteran left-hander hit Abdur Razzak over mid-wicket for six to complete his century off 85 balls and celebrated it with another over long off for the same result. The next ball, however, saw him depart, attempting a reverse sweep that found the short fine leg. But by then Sri Lanka had reached the 300-mark.

Later in the field he took an excellent catch, running a few yards from square leg to dismiss Aftab Ahmed.