Uthura in giant killing performance to down Neganahira
Dilanka MANNAKKARA
The Uthura Rudras who have been downright poor in the SLPL 2012 came
back strongly with a giant killing performance to down the high riding
Negenahira Nagas by 15 runs. This shock defeat for the Nagas has left
the slots for the Semi Final wide open with the resurgent Ruhuna Royals
also vying for place. The Ruhuna Royals will meet the top placed Wayamba
United in a must win game tonight. Chamara Kapugedara became once again
the unlikely savior of the Uthura team with a tidy 43 while Naved Ul
Hasan showed his T 20 prowess finally taking 3 for 21 in his 4 overs.
The Rudras despite having a usual poor start to their innings once
again recovered through “in form’ Chamara Kapugedara who seems to score
runs when he gets dropped from the team.Kapugedara hit a well made 43
from 32 balls to uplift the Uthura team while the others chipped around
him.
Kapugedara who followed this knock after a match winning 63 in the
previous game played some crisp boundaries at the start of his knock.
Despite Kapugedera's lively progress, Uthura's scoring rate had dipped
below 6.5 by the end of the 14th over. Farveez Maharoof came and went
attempting to boost the rate, but managed only 12 from 14, before
Kapugedera took it on himself to provide the late charge.
He made 18 from his last 8 balls to propel Uthuras towards 150,
before departing in the penultimate over.Dillon Du Preez ably supported
Kapugedara at the end with a breezy 19 of 10 balls.
The Neganahira Nagas were in deep trouble chasing a target of 150 and
were down and out at 40 for five wickets.New Zealander Collin de
Grandhomme playing in his first game for the Nagas stroked a fluent 43
of 28 balls with four 4s and two sixes but it wasn’t enough for the Nags
to cross over the line.The Nagas were struggling at 97 for 9 before
Suraj Randiv also playing his first game of the SLPL 2012 hit 27 of 18
and Ajantha Mendis remained unbeaten on 14 runs to drive Nagas in to 134
for 9 in 20 overs.
The Nagas top order batsmen threw their wickets away succumbing to
the pressure applied by the Uthura bowlers.
Ahmed Shehzad was caught heaving across the line, before Travis Birt
danced past a straighter one from Jehan Mubarak that hit the top of
middle stump.
Needless run outs compounded Nagenahira's woes as both Mushfiqur
Rahim and Angelo Perera charged down the wicket when a run was not on
offer.
Uthura Rudras – 149 for 6 wickets in 20 overs – (C.Kapugedara
43,R.Quiney 24;S.Eranga 2 for 32)
Neganahira Nagas – 134 for 9 wickets in 20 overs – (C.de Grandhomme
43,S.Randiv 27;N.Ul Hasan 3 for 21) |