Exciting games on the cards

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Two exciting games are on the cards when Hirdaramani Ruhuna clash with Basnahira South at Moratuwa and MAS Kandurata meet Wayamba at the NCC ground in their SLC Inter Provincial limited overs cricket tournament semifinals scheduled for today.

High profile

In fact the high profile clash between MAS Kandurata and Wayamba is certain to produce some fantastic cricket with both teams studded with a host of present and former Sri Lankan players.

The match is also a repeat of the last preliminary round fixture of the tournament in which Wayamba pulled off a thrilling one run victory on the Duckworth and Lewis scoring method at the Pallekelle Stadium in Kandy recently.

However Kandurata will be brimming with confidence after having piled up over three hundred runs in their previous outing. They will be looking for a repeat performance specially from their new look opening combination of Tharanga Paranavithana and Kaushalya Weeraratne who hammered a magnificent century in his previous innings.

Strong favourites

Meanwhile Hirdaramani Ruhuna will be strong favourites to enter the final when they confront giant killers Basnahira South in the second semifinal match which will be worked off at the Moratuwa Stadium today.

Points table

Ruhuna had the satisfaction of finishing on top of the points table despite a no result in their last preliminary round match of the competition. This is the first time that Ruhuna had emerged group champions.

The team will be strengthened with the return of veteran Sanath Jayasuriya who will be hoping for a flying start along with his partner Upul Tharanga. They will be followed by Dinesh Chandimal, Indika de Saram and Tillekeratne Sampath.