Dinesh Chandimal sparkle

by Chris DHAMBARAGE

CRICKET: Dynamic wicket keeper batsman Dinesh Chandimal celebrated his entry into the Sri Lanka team by smashing a sparkling 70 to help Ruhuna take a close first innings lead over Wayamba on the opening day of their Bank of Ceylon Inter-Provincial 4-day cricket tournament match commenced at the Colts CC ground in Havelock Park yesterday.

Chandimal who was the only uncapped player to be selected for the Twenty20 World Cup in the West Indies, hoisted three sixes and struck four boundaries during his 82 ball innings as Ruhuna finished on 173 for 4 in reply to their opponents 161 all out.

Chandimal was also associated in a third wicket partnership of 78 runs with Geeth Alwis after the openers Ian Daniel and skipper Upul Tharanga had put on 56 for the first wicket. Earlier opener Mahela Udawatte hit a splendid 90 but could not prevent Wayamba from been dismissed for 161 after they were put into bat by Ruhuna. Udawatte struck 14 boundaries and one six and put on 64 runs for the fourth wicket together with Damitha Hunukumbura.

Wayamba: 161 (M. Udawatte 90, D. Hunukumbura 23, T. Lakshitha 3 for 33, S. Senanayake 4 for 54, C. Komasaru 2 for 15).

Ruhuna: 173 for 4 (U. Tharanga 39, I. Daniel 32, D. Chandimal 70, G. Alwis 23 n.o.).

Basnahira North consolidate

Dashing opener Dilshan Munaweera hammered another powerful unbeaten century to put Basnahira North in a strong position on the opening day of their Bank of Ceylon Inter-Provincial 4-day cricket tournament match began at the Moratuwa Stadium .

Munaweera hoisted one six and struck 18 fours during his 89 ball innings as Basnahira North reached an impressive 182 for 2 in reply to Basnahira South's first innings total of 224.

Earlier middle order batsman Janaka Gunaratne carried on his bat for an unbeaten 98 which included two sixes and eleven boundaries that helped Basnahira South recover from a shock start after they had been put into bat.

Basnahira South: 224 (P. Jayawardena 24, J. Gunaratne 98 n.o., H. Fernando 36, C. Perera 22, D. Prasad 2 for 37, D. Dharshanpriya 2 for 32, P. Fernando 2 for 44, S. Serasinghe 4 for 34).

Basnahira North: 182 for 2 (D. Munaweera 116 n.o, D. Karunaratne 22, S. Serasinghe 28, M. Siriwardena 2 for 52).