Thisara’s fireworks power Kandurata
Dilanka MANNAKKARA
It took a power packed blitz of 72 by Thisara Perea to take the
Kandurata side to a commendable score of 159 for the loss of 7 wickets
after 20 overs against the Neganahira Nagas at the R.Premadasa stadium
under lights.
Thisara favoring the deep mid wicket and long on areas absolutely
smashed anything on length with such shear power combined with perfect
timing to up the ante for the Kandurata side who were stuck in a pain
stricken 4 for 61 of 10.5 overs. Four huge sixes and six boundaries
comprised of Thisara’s innings of 72 of just 33 balls. His fifty came of
just 22 balls.
Kandurata Captain Thilan Samaraweera won the toss elected to bat
first and were in trouble in the first over itself when the captain
himself was caught at the covers of Kanishka Alvitigala during the
second over.The Kandurata team couldn’t capitalize at all during the
powerplay 6 over period as Neganahira bowlers were accurate, bowled
consistent lines and lengths.
Wicket keeper Kaushal Silva renowned for his test style defensive
batting tried his best to get some quick runs but was dismissed for just
16 of 12 balls. Kithruwan Withanage looked good in his knock of 24 but
couldn’t rotate the strike much and was undone by an Ajantha Mendis off
break.
Scott Styris who came in next played a loose shot of an extremely
short ball of Sachith Pathirana to scoop a catch for Angelo Mathews to
swallow.
The experienced Misbah Ul Haq tried to rotate the strike and when the
run rate dipped below 6 runs per over tried to cut loose but was caught
brilliantly by wicket keeper Mushfiqur Rahim of Ajantha Mendis for 24.
Then it was the Thisara Perera show on offer and the crowd were
delighted to see an array of big hits. Ben Laughlin who out foxed
batsmen with his slower balls and yorkers ended up with 2 wickets for 29
runs.
Kandurata - 159 for 7 wickets in 20 overs. (Thisara Perera
72,K.Vithanage 24;Laughlin 2 for 29,A.Mendis 2 for 30 and Sachith
Pathirana 2/30).
Neganahir Nagas were 109 for 1 when the paper went to print. Imran
Nazir 58, Ahamed Shehzad 34 n.o. and Angelo Mathews 14 n.o. |