By David Stephens

Kandurata recorded a 52 run win over Basnahira North in their Bank of Ceylon Provincial 50 over cricket tournament encounter at the Colts Cricket Grounds yesterday.

A blistering partnership of 151 runs between Jeewan Mendis and Chinthaka Jayasinghe ensured that Kandurata reached a score of 263 after they lost the toss and were put into bat.

Jayasinghe, who came in when his team was struggling on 102 for 5, bludgeoned 69 runs in an innings containing 6 fours and 3 sixes.

Mendis was close behind him on the scoreboard, smashing 5 fours and a solitary six in his stand of 67.
Basnahira initially had Kandurata’s batsmen pinned down. Off break bowler Sachitra Serasinghe did most of the damage deceiving Kandurata and Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara and Kaushalya Weeraratne into playing at deliveries that led to their stumping, then he trapped Chamara Kapugedera in front of the wicket.

In reply Basnahira North began their chase by losing their first two wickets - openers Amal Athulathmudali and Dimuth Karunaratne - with just nine runs on the board. This was to be a regular pattern throughout their innings, as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals.

Angelo Mathews tried to consolidate the innings by building partnerships with Sachithra Serasinghe, and then Roshen Silva, but eventually fell to the bowling of Suraj Randiv for 52 runs. During his Methews’s innings he blasted two massive sixes which dented the roof of the press box.

Thereafter Kandurata’s bowlers tore through the Basnahira batting line up, dismissing them for 201 in the 45th over. Suraj Randiv, Muttiah Muralitharan, Thilan Thushara and Chaminda Vidanapathirana each captured 2 wickets for Basnahira North. Roshen Silva ran out of partners and remained unbeaten on 42 from 67 balls.

Kandurata 263/5 in 50 overs ( Chinthaka Jayasinghe 69, Jeevan Mendis 67, Kaushalya Weeraratne 48; Sachithra Serasinghe 3-46)

Basnahira North 201 in 44.5 overs (Angelo Mathews 52, Roshen Silva 42; Chaminda Vidanapathirana 2-36, Thilan Thushara 2-32, Muttiah Muralitharan 2-45, Suraj Randiv 2-43)