SL in Eng: KJP XI beat Mendis XI by 7 wickets in Intra-Squad practice T20 game

A captain's knock enabled Kusal Janith Perera's (KJP) XI to record a comfortable 7-wicket win against Kusal Mendis' XI in a high-scoring Intra-Squad T20 practice match played at Manchester on Friday (18).

Electing to bat, Mendis' XI piled up 219 for the loss of four wickets in 20 overs, but chased down the target losing just three wickets and with four deliveries to spare.

Mendis' XI was given a rousing start by openers Danushka Gunathilaka and Avishka Fernando, who shared 62 runs in 31 balls. 

Fernando was the first to fall after smashing 32 runs off 16 deliveries, inclusive of three fours and two sixes, and Gunathilaka went on to form another useful partnership of 106 runs off 58 balls for the second wicket with skipper Kusal Mendis.

Gunathilaka fell short of a well deserved century by a whisker after he was dismissed for 98 off 52 deliveries, which also included three boundaries and eight sixes. 

Mendis made 42 off 31 balls with four boundaries and three sixes and Dasun Shanaka added 30 off 20 balls with two sixes to see their side reach a total of beyond 200 runs. 

KJP XI used seven bowlers, but could not make proper use of their abilities against the high-riding batsmen, besides Dushmantha Chameera, Chamika Karunaratne and Isuru Udana, who claimed a wicket each.

Chasing 220 runs, KJP XI was spearheaded by the skipper himself, who smashed 95 runs in just 50 deliveries and laid the foundation to a formidable win coming in as the opener. 

Opener Oshada Fernando had to retire after an injury, but by then he had made 50 runs off 34 deliveries. 

Dhananjaya de Silva was unbeaten on 32 off 22 balls and Wanindu Hasaranga hit a cameo 25 off 10 deliveries to ensure their side emerge victorious.

Mendis' XI made use of six bowlers but only Binura Fernando stood out with two wickets in addition to Akila Dananjaya, who claimed a scalp. 

Kusal Mendis XI 219 for 4 wickets (20) (Danushka Gunathilaka 98, Avishka Fernando 32, Kusal Mendis 42, Dasun Shanaka 30, Dushmantha Chameera 1/18, Chamika Karunaratne 1/36, Isuru Udana 1/48)

Kusal Janith Perera XI 220 for 3 wickets (19.2) (Oshada Fernando 50n.o., Kusal Janith Perera 95, Dhananjaya de Silva 32n.o., Wanindu Hasaranga 25, Binura Fernando 2/34, Akila Dananjaya 1/40)