Lexmark Basnahira North emerged champions of the Inter-Provincial cricket tournament with a comprehensive ten wicket win over Lanka Bell Wayamba concluded at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.
Chasing just 16 runs for victory they romped home convincingly.
Having a healthy lead of 166 runs they had their opponents struggling on 107 for 3 at lunch. Lanka Bell Wayamba resuming on their overnight score of 39 for no loss lost their first wicket with the addition of 27 runs that of Mahela Udawatte.
Michael Vandort followed him 25 runs later after making a dogged innings of 50 from 89 balls which included eight boundaries. Kaushal Lokuarachchi who top scored with 70 coming in at number three this time was the next to go which was in the last over before the lunch break.
The post lunch session saw Lanka Bell Wayamba batsmen falter and giving a pathetic batting display. Apart from the top five of the batsmen reaching double figures the others failed to make any impression
Earlier Lexmark Basnahira North who were 93 for 4 made a grand recovery in the first inning which came due to some fine batting by man in form Angelo Mathews who notched up a brilliant knock of 152 in the process putting on an invaluable 185 runs partnership for the fifth wicket with Muthumudalige Pushpakumara who too made a fine knock of 103.
Angelo’s knock comprised 15 boundaries and a six while Pushpakumara had nine boundaries and a six. The two contributions helped their side make a formidable 389 in reply to Lanka Bell Wayamba’s 223.
Incidentally this was the second time that Angelo scored a ton against the same opponents having made 118 in the round robin match played earlier. Angelo began the tournament with a whopping 270 against MAS Holdings Kandurata and then followed with two half tons against Hirdaramani Ruhuna (72) and Lexmark Basnahira South (64).
Lanka Bell Wayamba 223 (Kaushal Lokuarachchi 70, Damitha Hunukumbura 46, Thisara Perera 33, Mahela Udawatte 22, Jehan Mubarak 15: Daminda Dharshanapriya 5 for 55, Nuwan Fernando 2 for 43) and (39/0 o’night) 181 (Michael Vandort 50, Jeewantha Kulatunga 37, Mahela Udawatte 28, Kaushal Lokuarachchi 20, JehanMubarak 20: Muthumudalige Pushpakumara 4 for 49, Nuwan Kulasekera 2 for 32)
Ewis Basnahira North 389 (Angelo Mathews 152, Muthumudalige Pushpakumara 103, Ian Daniel 31, Daminda Dharshanapriya 22: Isuru Udana 2 for 54, Jehan Mubarak 2 for 65, Thisara Perera 2 for 68, Rangana Herath 2 for 83) and 16 for no loss.
| Lanka calls it a day |
 |
| Lanka de Silva |
Former Sri Lanka wicket keeper batsman Lanka de Silva has hung up his boots from all forms of cricket. The decision was taken after the Inter-Provincial cricket final concluded at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday. 33 year old Lanka de Silva’s first class cricket career which began in the 1991/92 season spanned a long 18 years before he announced his retirement. He had the honour of reaching the 10,000 run mark this season which he achieved along with his Tamil Union team Sajith Fernando. Lanka in 178 innings accumulated 10, 545 runs with an average of 41.35 which included 21 tons and 63 half tons.
He represented BRC, CCC, KYCC before switching to his present club Tamil Union and then went on to represent Wayamba in both the Inter-Provisional four day and T20 cricket tournament.
Lanka’s made his international debut at the age of 22 selected to represent his country in 1997 against India in the three match test series held in India which also turned to be his last.
His ODI debut was also against India the same year in the Pepsi Asia Cup which was played in Sri Lanka. He represented Sri Lanka in another ten ODI’s with the last being against South Africa. Lanka de Silva who is holding a Level II coaching certificate is due to take over a coaching stint with his old club Tamil Union in the near future. (MSA) |
|
E-mail