Combined Province take on Kandurata
Chris DHAMBARAGE
The Combined Province team will come out for the first time when they
take on Kandurata Province in their Inter Provincial Twenty20 cricket
tournament match at the R. Premadasa Stadium today.
The Combined Province team will be captained by Sri Lanka all rounder
Jeewan Mendis who had a successful one day international series against
England which concluded recently.
The presence of star all rounder Angelo Mathews will be an added
advantage for the Combined Province team who will be looking to make a
winning start to their campaign.
Vice captain Nuwan Kulasekera, Sachith Pathirana, Isuru Udana and
Ashan Priyanjana are the other senior players in the team while among
the youngsters Kithruwan Vithanage, Dhanushka Gunatilleke and Gihan
Rupasinghe will be hoping to put up a good performance.
Kandurata Province of course are in a must win situation following
their shock 40 run defeat at the hands of Ruhuna Province in their
opening fixture of the tournament played earlier.
They will be looking to produce an improved batting performance after
their top order collapsed in that match and were restricted to 114 for 7
from their 20 overs while chasing a target of 154 runs.
They certainly have the batting power to chase down any target with
players in the caliber of Kumar Sangakkara, Chamara Kapugedera, Tharanga
Paranavithana and all rounder Farveez Maharoof in their ranks. Meanwhile
the two unbeaten teams Wayamba Province and Ruhuna Province will clash
in the second match of the day at the same venue commencing at 2.30 p.m.
Wayamba Province of course were fortunate to win their contest against
Basnahira Province in a bowl out after their opening match of the
tournament was washed out due to bad weather.
In contrast Ruhuna Province will be more confident and will be
looking to register their second successive victory following their
success against Kandurata Province.
Their key player will be in form batsman Dinesh Chandimal who
hammered the first half century of the tournament from just 53
deliveries. |