Wayamba United win by 20 runs

Elmo RODRIGOPULLE reporting

Led skillfully by Mahela Jayawardene, Wayamba United posted their second victory when they beat Uva Next by 20 runs in the SLPL game played at the Pallekele Stadium, yesterday.After making 147 for 9, Wayamba dismissed Uva for 127 in 18.1 overs.

The architects of Wayamba’s victory were bowlers Isuru Udana 2 for 19, Chaturanga Kumara 3 for 33 and Akila Dhananjaya 2 for 20. Dinesh Chandimal excelled taking three match winning catches.

When Uva began their innings Shiv Chanderpaul and Dilshan Munaweetra gave them an encouraging start putting on 30 in 19 balls.But once Chanderpaul left, the innings fell apart.There were occasional showers from morning and when play started it was overcast which would have been encouraging to the seam bowlers.

Uva skipper Thilina Kandamy beat Mahela Jayawardene in the toss and seemed overjoyed in asking Wayamba to bat.As expected new ball bowlers Jacob Oram and Umar Gul made good use of the overcast conditions and bowling with good pace began to move the ball around much to the discomfort of the early batsmen

Wayamba were off to a dreaded start when Oram moved one to get the edge of Tamim Iqbal’s bat to be snapped up by wicket keeper Upul Tharanga without scoring.

Then Mohammed Hafeez skied Gul to Shoaib Malik fielding at mid off for one and when Jayawardene walked in, he was expected to steady the ship. But after hitting two well timed boundaries, he fell to a peach of a ball from Oram.

Oram moved a ball in sharply and Jayawardene lunging forward was bowled off the inside edge for 9. At 18 for 3 the batting looked shaky.

However good partnerships of 26, 38 and 41 for the 4th,5th and 7th wicket helped Wayamba recover and make 147 for 9 in 20 overs.Milinda Siriwardena and Kaushalya Weeraratne provided the sparks hitting 28 and 24. Siriwardena had 5 fours and Weeraratne 2 four and 2 sixes.Jacob Oram had the best figures of 3 for 6. Umar Gul had 2 for 48 and Dilhara Fernando 2 for 43.

What was inexplicable was that scorer Thusara Cooray was not provided with the usual microphone. He had to shout at the top of his voice to be heard by journalists covering the event. Lack of interest by SLC.

Chief scores- Wayamba United 147 for 9 in20 overs ( K.Akmal 36,M.Siriwardena 28,K.Weersaratne 24, J.Oram 3/6, U.Gul 2/48, D.Fenando 2/43)

Uva Next 127 in 18.1 overs – ( Dilshan Munaweera 26, J.Oram 26,S.Prasanna 19, I.Udana 2/19,A.Dhananjaya 2/20, C.Kumara 3/33)