Sri Lanka’s batsmen made the most of the Amsterdam sunshine, a good wicket and fast outfield, and some fairly friendly bowling to set a new world record total in the first of their two Nachenius Tjeenk one-day internationals today.

Their score of 433 for nine was built on a magnificent 157 from Sanath Jayasuriya, who shared a third-wicket partnership of 149 with Kumar Sangakkara (whose contribution was 46, made from 43 balls), while Tillekaratne Dilshan made a fine 117 not out in the closing stages.

Jayasuriya was in control from the outset. Billy Stelling opened with a maiden, but thereafter all the Dutch bowlers came in for severe punishment, with the Sri Lankans immediately fastening on anything short, overpitched or off line. In all they hit 52 fours and three sixes, Jayasuriya’s fourth ODI 150 – he is the first man to achieve this feat – including 24 fours and one six.

The only period during which the Dutch bowlers managed to achieve any kind of restraint was between the 18th and 35th overs, when Mohammad Kashif produced ten excellent overs of off-spin, with Peter Borren and Luuk van Troost restricting the boundaries at the other end.

When Jayasuriya was finally out playing an extravagant reverse sweep off Kashif, having made 157 from just 104 balls, Dilshan took over. His innings was initially more circumspect, but as the record approached and wickets began falling at the other end he began to lash out, taking 19 off one over from Stelling as he reached his hundred.

The bowlers and fieldsmen stuck to their task reasonably well, but a succession of misfields made the Sri Lankans’ task easier, and the bowling was never threatening on a placid pitch. As a spectacle it was great, but this is a record the Dutch would rather not have seen.