Sri Lanka Lawyers too good for Architects
View(s):Sri Lanka Lawyers’ clinched the inaugural Professionals’ Cricket League by recording a comfortable 6-wicket win against the Sri Lanka Architects’ team in the finals played at the P. Sara Oval Stadium in Colombo. The final of the Twenty20 battle among three teams, took place on February 8.
The victorious Sri Lanka Lawyers team with the trophy on offer after defeating Sri Lanka Architects
Batting first after being put into bat, the Architects had a brisk start but lost wickets at regular intervals before being bowled out for a modest score of 116. Samantha Hewage top scored for the Architects with an unbeaten 19 while Yushan Tharanga Abeykoon, the deputy skipper of the Lawyers’ team captured 4 wickets conceding just 18 runs. Besides Abeykoon, who was the pick of the bowlers for the Lawyers, Asela Patabendi claimed two wickets while Gihan Kularatne and Thusitha Ranathunga picked a wicket each.
Chasing 117 runs for victory, the Lawyers lost a few early wickets but got their act back on track through steady partnerships in the middle order. They eventually completed the run chase in the 17th over, with 23 deliveries to spare, losing only four wickets. The top scorer for the winners was Thusitha Ranathunga who made 22. Patabendi returned to cap off a fine allround performance by hitting an unbeaten 21 after claiming two wickets. Yohan Jinasena remained not out on 20 when the Lawyers reached the winning post.
Asela Patabendi was adjudged the man-of-match in the final while Thusitha Ranathunga and Yushan Tharanga Abeykoon were picked as the best batsman and the best bowler of the final respectively. Manoj Champika of the Architects’ team was awarded the man of tournament. Patabendi went on to win best batsman of the tournament award while Abeykoon claimed the award for the best bowler of the tournament.
Besides the eventual winners, Lawyers and runners-up, the Architects, the tournament also featured the Sri Lanka Doctors’ cricket team. The victorious Lawyers’ team was captained by Manesh Wevita and was coached by Upali Senaratne.
The man of the match awards of the matches played in the round robin stages were won by the following players:
Match between Architects and Doctors: Manoj Champika
Match between Architects and Lawyers: Buddhika Rajapakse
Match between Doctors and Lawyers: Yohan Jinsena
Match between Doctors and Architects: Manoj Champika
Match between Lawyers and Architects: Asela Patabendi
The score of the final:
Architects 116 all out in 20 overs (Samantha Hewage 19 not out, Haq 18, Priyanga Jayasena 14, Manoj Champika 12, Yushan Tharanga Abeykoon 4 for 18, Asela Patabendi 2 for 20, Thusitha Ranathunga 1 for 12, Gihan Kularatne 1 for 21)
Lawyers 117 for 4 wickets in 16.1 overs (ThusithaRanathunga 22, Asela Patabendi 21 not out, Yohan Jinsena 20 not out, Buddhika Rajapakse 14, Manoj Champika 2 for 27, KosalaWeerasekara 1 for 15, DamithPerera 1 for 23)