Upul Tharanga back in form
Sri Lanka ‘A’ wrapped up the seven-match unofficial T20 series 5-1 against Kenya after rain washed out play in the final match of the series played at the CCC ground yesterday.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ came into the game having already taken an unassailable lead 4-1 after the completion of the fourth and fifth match played a few days ago at the same venue.
In the sixth match which was played in the morning session saw Upul Tharanga who took over the captaincy from Dinesh Chandimal winning the toss and inviting Kenya to take first lease of the wicket.
Upul Tharanga was in fine form yesterday, smashing 48 and 52
Kenya began with an inauspicious start with the two Jayaratne’s, Ishan and Lahiru sending back the openers to the pavilion before any scoring being done within the first two overs.
Ishan struck again in his second over to have Kenya reeling on 12 for 3 in the third over. The Kenyans recovered through a valuable 52 runs for the fourth wicket between Irfan Karim and skipper Collins Obuya.
The separation of the duo saw Kenya lose their fifth wicket at 87 in the 17th over before Irfan, who made an unbeaten 53, along with Rakep Patel, saved them from a collapse by adding 44 runs for the sixth wicket and helped Kenya end with a respectable score of 131.
Sri Lanka ‘A’ in their run chase was given a flying start by openers, skipper Upul Tharanga and Mahela Udawatte who together was associated in a 74 runs off just 69 balls before Tharanga was dismissed having made a valuable 48 runs from 45 balls which included three boundaries and three sixes.
The second wicket partnership between Udawatte and Angelo Perera yielded 26 runs as Sri Lanka ‘A’ reached 100 for 2 in the 16th over. They lost two quick wickets for the addition of only four runs and slid to 104 for 4 before coasting to the target with four balls to spare.
The seventh and final match which was played in the afternoon session was called off due to bad weather with Sri Lanka ‘A’ after facing 16.4 overs on 129 for 4 with skipper Tharanga making another good contribution of 52 in only 42 balls.
Match 6
Kenya 131 for 6 in 20 overs (Rakep Patel 28, Collins Obuya 25, Irfan Karim 53 n.o.: Ishan Jayaratne 2 for 23, Lahiru Jayaratne 2 for 28)
Sri Lanka ‘A’ 132 for 5 in 19.2 overs (Upul Tharanga 48, Mahela Udawatte 31, Angelo Perera 15, Kithruwan
Vithanage 20 n.o.: Hiren Varaiya 3 for 15)
Match 7
Sri Lanka ‘A’ 129 for 4 in 16.4 overs (Upul Tharanga 52, Niroshan Dickwella 42: Elijah Otieno 2 for 15)
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