Basnahira take on Wayamba in the curtain raiser

Chris DHAMBARAGE

The formidable Basnahira team will take on Wayamba in the curtain raiser match of the Sri Lanka Cricket inter provincial Twenty20 cricket tournament which begins at the R. Premadasa Stadium today.

Basnahira will be captained by Sri Lanka wicket keeper batsman Prasanna Jayawardena with leg spinner Rangana Herath as his deputy. They will also have the services of opener Tillekeratne Dilshan and speed star Lasith Malinga. The Wayamba Province will be led by elegant middle order batsman Thilina Kandamby while former Sri Lanka batsman Chamara Silva is the vice captain. But their key player in the side is former Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardena.

The other senior players in the Wayamba team are Malinga Bandara, Indika de saram, Thilan Samaraweera and Thisara Perera. Meanwhile in the second match of the day Kandurata will take on the Combined Province team starting at 2.30 p.m. The Kandurata team will be strengthened with the inclusion of ace spinner Muttiah Muralitharan.

However the Kandurata team will be led by dashing middle order batsman Chamara Kapugedera and opener Tharanga Paranavithana as the vice captain. Former Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara, Farveez Maharoof and Dilhara Fernando are the other senior players in the side.

The Combined Province team will be captained by Sri Lanka all rounder Jeevan Mendis with fast bowler Nuwan Kulasekera as the vice captain. They will also have the services of dynamic all rounder Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis and Isuru Udana. Meanwhile promising opening batsman Mahela Udawatte will captain the Ruhuna Province team.