Inter-Provincial limited overs final:

Kumar and Chamara pilot Kandurata to victory

Chris Dhambarage

Two magnificent half centuries from skipper Kumar Sangakkara and Chamara Kapugedera guided MAS Kandurata to an exciting three wicket victory over Hirdaramani Ruhuna in the Bank of Ceylon Inter Provincial limited overs cricket tournament final worked off at the Moratuwa Stadium yesterday.

Chasing a tough 263 runs for victory Kandurata went through some anxious moments before eventually reaching their target in the last over of the innings. Man of the Match Kumar Sangakkara played the sheet anchor role with a top score of 76 from 79 deliveries inclusive of two sixes and half a dozen of boundaries.

Along with Chamara Kapugedera the experienced pair held the middle order together and put on 109 runs for the fifth wicket from 16 overs.

Kapugedera made his intentions clear from the start and raced to a run a ball fifty with the help of one six and three boundaries.

However both players departed within the space of two deliveries as Ruhuna staged a superb comeback to reduce their opponents to 262 for 6 in the 44th over. But all rounder Chinthaka Jayasinghe took the game away from Ruhuna by smashing 28 runs from just 23 deliveries inclusive of one six and three boundaries.

Earlier Ruhuna rallied around two fighting half centuries from Tillekeratne Sampath and Sachithra Senanayake to reach a competitive 263 for 7 from their 50 overs after skipper Upul Tharanga had won the toss and elected to bat first.

The openers Tharanga and veteran Sanath Jayasuriya in fact gave their side a solid start while putting on 61 runs from 9.2 overs.

Jayasuriya was threatening to take control of the situation having raced to 31 from 26 balls including two successive sixes off Kaushalya Weeraratne and three boundaries.

However two quick wickets changed the complexion of the game as Kandurata made a good come back through their seamers Thilan Thushara, Dilhara Fernando and Kaushalya Weeraratne.

Indika de Saram and Tillekeratne Sampath then steadied the Ruhuna innings while putting on 63 runs for the fourth wicket. De Saram was unfortunately run out for a well compiled 46 from 58 balls with five boundaries. Sampath went on to complete a splendid half century which was studded with four boundaries.

All rounder Sachithra Senanayake then accelerated the scoring rate during the final stages of the innings with a run a ball unbeaten half century with one six and six boundaries and also dominated a sixth wicket partnership of 58 runs along with Tillekeratne Sampath.

The champions MAS Kandurata received a cash award of of Rs. One Million and the runners up Hirdaramani Ruhuna received Rs. 500,000.