NEWSNOW | COLOMBO – SUPER PROVINCIAL ONE DAY TOURNAMENT
In a clear display of the nimble litheness and technique that once propelled him as a star national performer with the bat Lahiru Thirimanne struck a timely match winning 107 off 99 balls inclusive of 10 boundaries and a six in Colombo’s 4-wicket triumph over Dambulla at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Needing 271 to win off 40 overs in the rain reduced match, Colombo reached 262 for 6 in 39 overs on the revised D/L method requiring 259 in the stipulated overs. Skipper Thisara Perera propped up Colombo striking 32 off 15 reeling off 4,6,4,4 and 6 in successive blows in an over clearing a 57-run deficit off 35 to 32 from so balls in posting 56 runs in just 3.4 overs with Thirimanne for the sixth wicket. Thirimanne also shared in a 69-run third wicket partnership in 11.3 overs with Dananjaya de Silva who made 41 off 39 balls containing 6 boundaries.
Dambulla’s 270 was built around a top score of 59 off 40 balls by skipper Kusal Janith Perera who struck 8 boundaries and 2 sixes. Milinda Siriwardena scored a whirlwind unbeaten 51 off 29 with 5 boundaries and a six.Ashan Priyanjan made 50 off 51 with 3 boundaries and 2 sixes and Sachithra Serasinghe 40 off 53 containing 3 boundaries and a six.
Meanwhile, opening batsman Mahela Udawatte struck a 96-ball 116 sharing in a record 137-run alliance for the first wicket with Niroshan Dickwella who made 75 off 58 balls as Kandy made 217 for 2 wickets reaching a revised 190-run victory target in 30 overs on the D/L in the 40-over rain reduced match in reply to Galle’s 250 all out in 35.4 overs at the P. Saravanamuththu Stadium.
Udawatte’s century knock was studded with 14 boundaries and 2 sixes and Udawatte struck 11 boundaries. Skipper Angelo Mathews was unbeaten on 26 off 20 with a boundary.
Galle’s 250 revolved around a top score of 72 off 73 balls by Sammu Ashan which contained 6 boundaries and a six while Roshen Silva continued his fine form from the Super Provincial four-day tournament with an enterprising 55 off 59 balls containing a boundary and a six. Isuru Udana claimed 5 wickets for 59 for Colombo.
Chief Scores:
At the R. Premadasa Stadium – Colombo beat Dambulla by 4 runs on D/L
Dambulla 270/6 (40 Overs) Run Rate: 6.75
(M.D.K.J. Perera 59, S.M.A. Priyanjan 50, S.C. Serasinghe 40, N.L.T.C. Perera 2/44, M.D.K. Perera 2/39, M.V.T. Fernando 2/64).
Colombo 262/6 (39 Overs) Run Rate 6.71
(H.D.R.L. Thirimanne n.o. 107, D.M. de Silva 41, N.L.T.C. Perera 32, A.K. Perera 26, L.P.C. Silva 25, P.L.S. Gamage 2/47, A.M. Fernando 2/47)
At the P. Saravanamuththu Stadium – Kandy beat Galle by 28 runs on D/L
Galle 250 all out (35.4 Overs) Run Rate 7.0
(S. Ashan 72, A.R.S. Silva 55, P.C. de Silva 29, S. Samarawickrema 25, A.D. Solomans 23, I. Udana 5/59, C.A.K. Rajitha 3/63, C.B.R.L. Kumara 2/56)
Kandy 217/2 (30 Overs) Run Rate 7.23
(M.L. Udawatte 116, N. Dickwella 75, A.D. Mathews n.o. 20)
By Srian Obeyesekere (Courtesy – Srilankacricket.lk)
