Kandurata Maroons prevail in one sided final
Kandurata Maroons prevailed in what was expected to be a close tussle when they recorded a convincing seven wicket win over Basnahira Greens in a one sided Inter-Provincial Super4’s T20 final played at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.
The win also saw Kandurata Maroons booking a berth to represent Sri Lanka in the Champions League T20 qualifying tournament scheduled to be played in India next month.
Kandurata Maroons chasing a simple target of just 110 runs romped home with three overs to spare after openers Upul Tharanga and Thilina Kandamby put on a sedate start of 40 runs in 35 balls.
Maroons celebrating the wicket of Greens opener TN Sampath. - Pic by Shantha Ratnayake
This was followed by another 30 runs stand for the second wicket between Tharanga and Kumar Sangakkara which saw them cruising well with the score on 70 for 1 in the tenth over before they were separated.
With Sangakkara being dismissed six runs later Kandurata Maroons was guided by skipper Lahiru Thirimanne and Kaushal Lokuarachchi who together associated in an unbroken 37 runs partnership for the fourth wicket which helped them achieve the target with ease.
Earlier in the day Basnahira Greens skipper Angelo Mathews winning the toss and electing to take first lease of the wicket was aided by nine byes in the first over of Nuwan Kulasekera.
But they lost two early wickets in the third over with the score on 17 as Kulasekera came back with vengeance to dismiss openers Gihan Rupasinghe who was struggling, for a duck and Dilshan Munaweera.
However Basnahira Greens seemed to be settling down with Sachithra Serasinghe and T.N. Sampath defying the bowlers before they were separated having added 17 runs with the dismissal of Serasinghe.
Later at the halfway stage of the innings they lost two more wickets and slid to 52 for 5 in the tenth over. Skipper Mathews and Janaka Gunaratne put on a 27 runs stand for the sixth wicket and with three overs left was struggling on 79 for 6.
Mathews held on at one end but was forced to see him losing partners at the other end. In the remaining three overs Basnahira Greens managed to add a further 30 runs to end their quota of 20 overs making 109.
Mathews was the only batsman to put in some resistance as he made an unbeaten 49 ball knock of 53 inclusive of three boundaries and a six which in the end proved to be in vain.
Nuwan Kulasekera for his impressive figures of 3 for 19 was adjudged the player of the final with Kosala Kulasekera of Basnahira Greens taking player of the series award.
Uthura Yellows skipper Dinesh Chandimal and Dhammika Prasad of Kandurata Maroons were adjudged the best batsman and best bowler of the tournament.
Basnahira Greens 109 for 7 in 20 overs (Angelo Mathews 53 n.o.: Nuwan Kulasekera 3 for 19)
Kandurata Maroons 113 for 3 in 17 overs (Upul Tharanga 32, Kumar Sangakkara 21, Thilina Kandamby 17, Kaushal Lokuarachchi 26 n.o.)
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