Bandaranayake MV ease to a 6-run win
Henegama MV's Damith Chamal took two wickets and scored 54 - Pic by Amila Gamage
A fine match winning all-round performance by Bandaranayake MV’s Maleesha Kalansuriya (28 and 4 for 19) and a lonely battle with the bat by Henegama MV’s Damith Chamara (54) highlighted the inaugural Siyane Blue and Green Limited Over cricket encounter at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium. Fortunes swung from side to side in the latter half of the game, while Bandaranayake MV moving towards victory in the 30th over, their medium pace bowler Thilina Nipun Gunesekera bowled eleven wides in his 7th over to saw the score shot up from 103 for 7 to 114 for 7 with just 32 runs away from victory with 20 more still left. But with the exit of Chamara in the 38th over the lads from Veyangoda became the proud winners of the glittering Siyane Blue and Green Trophy by a close six runs.
Taking first lease of a good batting pitch Bandaranayake MV openers Sajith Madusanka (13) and Maleesha Kalansuriya (28) put on 44 runs for the first wicket. They were heading in building a huge total and were 135 for 3 in the 34th over with Asiri Avishka 43 (with four fours and a six) and skipper Malinda Manabharana (28) were engaged in a partnership of 59 runs for the 4th wicket. But a sudden collapse which resulted the last seven wickets falling for just 11 runs brought the Bandaranayake MV’s downfall to be dismissed for 146 in 45.3 overs. The pace spin combination of Janith Madusanka (3 for 23), Damith Chamara (2 for 23) and Dilan Sampath (2 for 27) ripped through the batting line with the departure of Avishka.
Chasing an easy looking victory target of 146, Henegama batters never made an attempt to go for the runs and went into a shell from the first over. Henegama started losing wickets at regular intervals with half of the side back in the pavilion and in the 18th over the lanky left-hander Damith Chamara walked into bat. Making a brave effort in pulling the side out of trouble this stylish left handed batsman keeping the strike most of the time scored a courageous 54 which consisted nine hits to the ropes. Chamara and Kavisha Pinimuthu (5) were associated in a 31 run partnership for the 7th wicket but with the departure of top scorer Chamara at 121 saw Henegama MV folding up for 140 in 41.3 overs.
Left arm spinner Maleesha Kalansuriya became the main destroyer of Henegama with figures of 8.4-2-19-4 including the prized wicket of Damith Chamara. Kalansuriya was supported by skipper Manabarana (2 for 21) and Sajith Madusanka (2 for 28).
In a game of clean cricket where a high standard of discipline was maintained and played to the best traditions saw Bandaranayake MV becoming the first winners of the Siyane Blue and Green Trophy.
Individual awards were won by:
Best Batsman: Damith Chamara (Henegama MV); Best Bowler: Maleesha Kalansuriya (Bandaranayake MV); Best Fielder: Iruka Chamal (Henegama MV); Man-of-the-Match: Maleesha Kalansuriya (Bandaranayake MV).
Chief Scores:Bandaranayake MV 146 (45.3) (Sajith Madusanka 13, Maleesha Kalansuriya 28, Asiri Avishka 43, Malinda Manabarana 28, Damith Chamal 2 for 23, Dilan Sampath 2 for 27, Janith Madusha 3 for 23) Henegama MV 140 (41.3) (Damith Chamara 54, Janith Madusha 10 n.o., Malinda Manabarana 2 for 21, Maleesha Kalansuriya 4 for 19, Sajith Pushpakumara 2 for 28)