Oram takes Uva to SLPL final
Chinthana WASALA
New Zealand all-rounder Jacob Oram hit 41 off just 17 deliveries and
then grabbed three for 16 to help Uva Next book a place in the final of
the inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League when Wayamba suffered
20-run-defeat at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Tuesday night.
Uva total was propelled by two quick knocks from the top order,
Dilshan Munaweera 27 and skipper Thilina Kandamby 29. Caribbean left
hander Shivnarine Chandrapaul made use of his unorthodox shots including
few reverse-sweeps including a six which flew towards the spectators.
But Oram was the real star of the Uva innings,entertaining the massive
crowd with five huge sixes to help lift their innings to a formidable
171.
Chasing a stiff target of 172 for a win, only three Wayamba batsmen
got into double figures. Their top order failed miserably and their
total read 27 for 7 in the seventh over. Wayamba, were sans Mohomed
Hafeez and the Akmal brothers who were among the most impressive hitters
in their team during the tournament, found it hard to play the Uva
bowling attack, led by Oram. Sachithra Senanayake started the slide,
taking the wickets of Dinesh Chandimal and Tamim Iqbal who were both
stumped by Uva wicketkeeper Sameera de Zoysa. Iqbal was on 11 and
Chandimal scored 5.
Oram took three wickets, that of skipper Mahela Jayawardene (1),
Gihan Jayasuriya (1) and Abdul Razzak (3).
But then the Azhar – Isuru pair teamed up, and with a wide array of
nicely timed shots, they were able to lift the total. The magnificent
resistance from Azhar Mahmood and Isuru Udana made everyone feel like
Wayamba were cruising to a fantastic win at one stage. Azhar scored his
75 which included four sixes, eight boundaries in 47 deliveries while
Isuru Udana scored his career best T20 score of 42 in 38 balls with two
sixes and three to the rope before he was out in the last over.
He was involved in a 120-run stand with Azhar.
Wayamba needed 26 for a win from the last over and they fell short by
20 runs.
Uva: 171 for 6 (Dilshan Munaweera 23, Thilina Kandamby 29, Shivnarine
Chandrapaul 50 not out, Jacob Oram 41, Abdul Razzaq 2 for 17)
Wayamba: 151 for 8 (Tamin Iqbal 11, Azhar Mahamood 75 not out, Isuru
Udana 42, Jacob Oram 3 for 16, Sachithra Senanayake 2 for 38, Umar Gul 2
for 34)
|