World Cup winners prove their mettle

Sajeewa JAYAKODY

Romesh Kaluwitharana smashed 16-ball 42 runs and captain Arjuna Ranatunga and fast bowler Pramodya Wickramasinghe excelled in the World Cup winning team's 10-run win over Sidath Wettimuny led side in the late Guy de Alwis Memorial Twenty20 match, played at the SSC grounds yesterday.

World Cup winning team opened the innings with Romesh Kaluwitharana and Sri Lanka women's player Chamari Atapattu. Kaluwitharana hit nine fours and Atapattu scored scored 29 runs with three fours. Captain Ranatunga hit 32 runs in 25 balls with three fours and a six. World Cup winners made 156 runs for seven wickets in their 20 overs. Sanjeewa Ranatunga picked up two for 15 for Sidath Wettimuny's side.

Chasing a 157-run target, Wettimuny led team were restricted for 146 for eight wickets. Classy Sidath Wettimuny chipped in with a run-a-ball 30 with five elegant fours. Hard hitting Nuwan Zoysa slammed 32 runs in just 10 deliveries with three sixes and three fours. Paceman Pramodya Wickramasighe scalped three for 35 and legendary Muttiah Muralitharana bowled brilliantly to capture two for 15.

The match was organized remembering the late Guy de Alwis, Sri Lanka's finest wicket-keeper batsman, who passed away at 52 on January 12, 2013. Eventually, March 17 is the day that Sri Lanka won her solitary Cricket World Cup in 1996.