Ruhuna clinch Twenty20 title
Dilanka MANNAKKARA
An inspired Ruhuna side led by Mahela Udawatta clinched their maiden
Provincial Twenty20 title over reigning champs Wayamba in an absolute
cracker of a game to win in a super over . The game was tied when
Wayamba chasing 199 ended up with 198 after veteran Indika De Saram hit
a six when Wayamba needed seven off the last ball.
Wayamba scored just six runs of their super over for the loss of one
wicket and Ruhuna scored the winning runs of a Janaka Gunaratne full
blooded straight drive which went past Thisara Perera’s catching hands.
Ruhuna who won the toss opted to bat first on a placid track and were
boosted by a breezy 65 of 47 balls from skipper Mahela Udawatta with six
fours and one six and a whirlwind 83 from just 42 balls from all rounder
Janaka Gunarathne.
Janaka who is regarded as an explosive all rounder in Limited overs
cricket was surprisingly overlooked for a Dilruwan Perera for the
Twenty20 squad for the Australian series. Janaka slammed four fours and
six monstrous sixes in his hurricane innings to show the selectors his
worth.
Thisara Perera returned with 3 for 33 for Wayamba being their best
bowler for the innings.
Wayamba in reply led by Thilina Kandamby were off to a good start
with Thilan Samaraweera drafted in to an “unknown” opening slot and
responded with a stroke filled 57 of just 37 balls with seven fours and
two sixes.
Thilina Kandamby who was axed from the Lankan ODI squad despite
captaining the Twenty20 side in England probably played his best limited
overs knock in years.He showed his potential through an explosive 60 off
just 34 balls with three fours and four sixes.
Kandamby and De Saram who is renowned for his big hitting continued
the onslaught and had Wayamba on the hunt but Kandamby departed after he
was run out yet again in the dying stages of the game.
De Saram dealt with sixes and with just 8 runs to win of the last
over of Suraj Randiv,Thisara Perera departed of the first ball of the
20th over.
Kaushal Lokuarachchi who came in next also was back in the pavilion
after he was caught by Welagedara of the next ball. Randiv then had
Kaushal Weerarathne of the fifth ball of the over and Saram who faced
the last ball hit a huge six to draw the game.De Saram was stranded on
46 of just 22 balls with two fours and four massive sixes.
Player of the match - Janaka Gunaratne
Best Batsman of the series - Dinesh Chandimal
Best Bowler of the series - Dilruwan Perera
Player of the tournament - T.M Dilshan
RUHUNA INNINGS
TN Sampath c de Saram b Perera 11
ML Udawatte c Lokuarachchi b Perera 65
LD Chandimal c Bandara b Perera 1
TAM Siriwardana c Silva b Weeraratne 5
LJP Gunaratne st de Saram b Bandara 83
KPSP Karunanayake b Bandara 15
GACR Perera not out 1
JGA Janoda run out 0
Extras (lb 10, w 7) 17
TOTAL (7 wkts in 20 overs) 198
Fall of wickets: 1-22, 2-32, 3-51, 4-144, 5-180, 6-198, 7-198.
BOWLING: T Perera 4-0-33-3, T Thushara 4-0-35-0, MLR Buddika 3-0-25-0,
K Weeraratne 4-0-25-1, M Bandara 3-0-41-2, K Lokuarachchi 2-0-29-0.
WAYAMBA INNINGS
TT Samaraweera c Welegedara b Gunaratne 57
DPMD Jayawardene c Lanka b Perera 9
MLR Buddika c Welegedara b Sampath 1
SHT Kandamby run out 60
LPC Silva lbw b Karunanayake 13
SI de Saram not out 46
NLTC Perera c Gunaratne b Randiv 1
KS Lokuarachchi c Welegedara b Randiv 0
K Weeraratne c Sampath b Randiv 0
T Thushara not out 0
Extras (b 2, lb 3, w 6) 11
TOTAL (8 wkts in 20 overs) 198
Fall of wickets: 1-29, 2-46, 3-91, 4-131, 5-180, 6-191, 7-191, 8-192.
BOWLING: C Welegedara 4-0-35-0, GACR Perera 3-0-30-1, JGA Janoda 3-0-34-0, TN Sampath 2-0-20-1,
S Randiv4-0-40-3, LJP Gunaratne 2-0-17-1, KPSP Karunanayake 2-0-17-1. |
