Janaka, Suranga guide Basnahira Greens
View(s):A 31 ball knock of 40 with one boundary and four sixes and an impressive bowling figures of 3 for 20 by Suranga Lakmal helped Basnahira Greens to begin the Inter-Provincial T20 tournament with a 14 run win over Uthura Yellows in the first match played in the morning session at R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.
Basnahira Greens invited to take first lease by Uthura Yellows skipper Dinesh Chandimal got off to a sedate start with openers Dilshan Munaweera and Dimuth Karunaratne adding 32 runs before being separated with Dilshan’s dismissal in the seventh over. Thereafter they underwent a double blow as for the addition of only 11 runs they lost two quick wickets that Gihan Rupasinghe and skipper Angelo Mathews who lasted only two balls making just one run which saw them struggling on 43 for 3 in the ninth over.
Romesh Budhdika falls short of his ground. Pic by Amila Gamage
It was from that Janaka Gunaratne who walked in changed the complexion of the game as he was associated in two fruitful partnerships first of 29 runs with Dimuth for the fourth wicket which was followed with a valuable 35 runs stand for the fifth wicket with Kithruwan Vithanage before becoming a victim of Shaminda Eranga.
Kithruwan continued the good work when he put on a 25 runs stand for the sixth wicket with Kosala Kulasekera. Basnahira Greens who was able to make only 48 runs in the first ten overs chalked up 91 runs in the remaining ten overs to end with a challenging score of 139.
Uthura Yellows in their run chase of 140 runs was given a flying start by openers Mahela Udawatte and Ashan Priyanjan who together put on an almost a run a ball 45 runs partnership.
At the halfway stage of the innings they were well placed on 57 for 2 but struggled to come into terms with the right and left arm pace combination of Suranga Lakmal and Isuru Udana.
They lost wickets at regular intervals and in the latter part of the innings lost two quick wickets with score on 119 in the 19th over and failed to recover being able to muster only 125.
The Inter-Provincial T20 which replaced the Sri Lanka Premier League tournament which was cancelled is organized by Sri Lanka Cricket with four teams Basnahira Greens, Uthura Yellows, Kandurata Maroons and Ruhuna Reds contesting.
The winning team will travel to India to play the in the T20 Champions League qualifying tournament scheduled to be played next month.
Tensports is broadcasting this tournament LIVE around the globe together with CSN as the local broadcaster.
Basnahira Greens 139 for 6 in 20 overs (Janaka Gunaratne 40, Dimuth Karunaratne 22, Dilshan Munaweera 17, Kosala Kulasekera 15, Kithruwan Vithanage 22 n.o.: Akila Dhananjaya 2 for 20, Sohan Boralessa 2 for 33)
Uthura Yellows 125 for 9 in 20 overs (Ashan Priyanjan 26, Jeewan Mendis 19, Dinesh Chandimal 19, Thisara Perera 18, Mahela Udawatte 15: Suranga Lakmal 3 for 20, Isuru Udana 2 for 26)
-MSA
Follow @timesonlinelk
comments powered by Disqus