Basnahira North in command

Chris DHAMBARAGE

All roun -ders Angelo Mathews and Muthumudalige Pushpakumara scored contrasting centuries to put Basnahira North in a commanding position on the second day of the SLT Inter Provincial cricket tournament final against Wayamba continued at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Mathews played the sheet anchor role with a magnificent 152 and rescued his team after they had lost half of the side for just 96 runs.

He steadied the innings with some sensible batting and occupied the crease for a long period while facing 275 deliveries.

The dynamic all rounder pulled his side from total disaster while putting on a splendid 185 runs for the sixth wicket along with Muthumudalige Pushpakumara who also completed the three figure mark.

Mathews held on determinedly almost until the end, and was ninth out with the total on 371 having struck fifteen boundaries and one six.

His partner Pushpakumara in contrast played a more aggressive innings and went after the bowling in a typical manner.

He collected his runs from 146 deliveries inclusive of one six and nine boundaries.

But after his dismissal Mathews continued to frustrate the Wayamba Province bowlers while adding a further 49 runs for the seventh wicket along with Shanuka Dissanyake.

In addition Daminda Dharshanapirya batting at number ten made a valuable contribution of 22 runs following his bowling heroics where he captured five wickets for 55 runs.

Basnahira North Province went on to build up a healthy first innings lead of 166 runs before they were dismissed mid way in the final session.

Wayamba Province openers Michael van Dort and Mahela Udawatte reduced the deficit by putting on 39 runs from eight overs without been separated.

WAYAMBA PROVINCE
1st innings 223

BASNAHIRA NORTH
1st innings 
N. Perera c de Silva b Perera		  8   
I. Daniel b Mubarak			 31  
T. Kandamby c and b Herath		 13  
A. Mathews c Lokuarachchi b Udana	152 
K. Silva c Kulatunga b Mubarak		  9  
G. Wijekoon c de Silva b Welegedara	  5  
M. Pushpakumara lbw b Kulatunga		103  
S. Dissanayake c Herath b Perera	 10  
N. Kulasekara lbw b Herath		 12  
D. Darshanpriya b Udana			 22  
R. Fernando not out			  0  
Extras (b 6, lb 7, w 4, nb 7)		 24  
Total (all out) 			389  
Fall of wickets: 1-28, 2-60, 3-60, 4-81, 5-96, 6-281, 7-330, 8-354, 9-371.  
Bowling: C. Welegedara 15-2-58-1, T. Perera 17-0-68-2, I. Udana 16.2-3-54-2, 
R. Herath 27-6-83-2, J. Mubarak 14-1-65-2, K. Lokuarachchi 8-0-31-0, J. Kulatunga 7-1-17-1.

WAYAMBA
2nd innings 
M. Van Dort not out		16  
M. Udawatte not out		20  
Extras (lb 3)			 3  
Total (for no loss)		39  
Bowling: N. Kulasekara 2-1-1-0, G Wijekoon 3-0-17-0, M. Pushpakumara 2-0-13-0, T. Kandamby 1-0-5-0.