Basnahira have the edge over Kandurata

Chris DHAMBARAGE

Kandurata Province will take on Basnahira Province in the SLC Inter-Provincial limited overs cricket tournament final under lights at the R. Premadasa Stadium today.

Kandurata of course finished second in the points table at the end of the preliminary round and had the better of Ruhuna in the second semifinal match worked off at the same venue.

Basnahira who went through some anxious moments during the league phase came back strongly to beat a powerful Wayamba team by 69 runs in their semi-final match played earlier. In fact Basnahira will have a psychological advantage going into the important final having defeated Kandurata earlier in a qualifying round match at the SSC ground in Maitland Place.

On that occasion Basnahira rattled up an impressive 258 runs from 50 overs and then reduced their opponents to 199 for 5 in 42 overs to snatch a thrilling three run victory on the Duckworth and Lewis scoring method.

Kandurata: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Chamara Kapugedara, Nuwan Kulasekara, Muttiah Muralitharan, Yohan de Silva, Angelo Perera, Kosala Kulasekara, Farveez Maharoof, Chathura Peiris, Jehan Mubarak, Michael Van Dort, Sohan Boralessa, Chaminda Vidanapathirana, Saman Jayantha, Sachith Pathirana, Seekuge Prasanna, Kithruwan Withanage, Hans Fernando.

Basnahira: Tillekeratne Dilshan (captain), Angelo Mathews, Lasith Malinga, Tilan Thushara, Malintha Warnapura, Kushal Janith Perera, Roshen Silva, Sajeeva Weerakoon, Dilruwan Perera, Jeewantha Kulatunga, Chaminda Vaas, Thissara Perera, T N Sampath, Amila Prasad, Nadeera Nawela, Hasantha Fernando, Sanith de Mel, Kaushal Lokuarachchi.