Tharanga, Mahela upset Wayamba

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Sri Lankan discarded players Tharanga Paranavithana and Mahela Udawatte produced a tremendous batting performance to spearhead newcomers Uva Province to a shock eight wicket victory over the defending champions Wayamba in their SLC Inter Provincial cricket tournament match worked off at the SSC ground in Maitland Place yesterday.

The two openers figured in a magnificent stand of 153 runs from 34.3 overs as Uva overtook Wayamba’s modest total of 199 runs with nearly five overs to spare in their very first outing of the tournament.

Udawatte was in cracking form as he raced to a splendid 90 from 125 deliveries inclusive of 12 boundaries. Paranavithana carried on with the good work until the end and remained unbeaten on 88 from 105 balls which was studded with one six and six boundaries.

The pair got their act together well from the start and ensured that there will be no contest at the end with some fantastic strokes all around the ground. Wayamba in a desperate attempt to keep the runs down made use of eight bowlers but only Rangana Herath was successful while capturing both wickets to fall.

Earlier Wayamba after been put into bat were restricted to 199 runs from 44.5 overs in a game which was reduced to 47 overs per side. They of course made a decent start to their innings with opener Dimuth Karunaratne and skipper Mahela Jayawardena adding 54 for the third wicket. Karunaratne went on to complete a solid half century from 82 balls inclusive of three boundaries.

But thereafter Wayamba kept on losing wickets at vital stages with the two fast bowlers Dilhara Fernando and Shamindra Eranga causing the damage.

They were well supported by the two spinners Malinga Bandara and Janaka Gunaratne who snapped up two wickets each.

Wayamba: 199 in 44.5 overs (D. Munaweera 19, D. Karunaratne 52, M. Jayawardena 28, S. Karunanayake 20, D. Fernando 2 for 63, M. Bandara 2 for 44, S. Eranga 3 for 31, J. Gunaratne 2 for 24).

Uva: 200 for 2 in 42.3 overs (T. Paranavithana 88 n.o, M. Udawatte 90, R. Herath 2 for 37).