Kandurata–Uva Combined win easily
by Sajeewa JAYAKODY
Test opener Dimuth Karunaratne scored 80 runs and left arm spinner
Dulanjana Mendis picked up a five wicket haul for the victorious
Kandurata-Uva Combined team when they defeated Basnahira by 80 runs in
their Inter-Provincial Tournament match played at the Moors grounds,
Braybrooke Place yesterday.
Kandurata-Uva Combined skipper Thilina Kandamby chose to bat first
and opener Karunaratne played a solid innings with six fours and a six.
As paceman Ishara Jayaratne's early strike, Kandurata lost two wickets
for 16 runs. Left hander Bhanuka Rajapakse smashed 21-ball 28 before
Sachithra Serasinghe had caught and bowled to put Combined team in
trouble.
As the best partnership of the match, Karunaratne and Dilhan Cooray
added 92 runs for the fifth wicket before Malinda Warnapura got the
prize wicket of Karunaratne as the vice captain was trapped lbw for 80
runs.
The winning Combined team was coached by former Sri Lanka
wicket-keeper batsman Romesh Kaluwitharana.
In reply, Basnahira were bowled out for a pathetic 134 runs as left
arm spinner Dulanjana Mendis picked up five wickets. The pint sized left
armer captured five wickets for 33 runs with two maiden overs in his
nine overs.
Skipper Thilina Kandamby led the Combined team making timely bowling
changes. When skipper brought paceman Dilhara Fernando into the attack,
Fernando made breakthroughs and lanky fast bowler ended exceptional
figures capturing three wickets for 17 runs with a maiden over in his
4.3 overs.
In Fernando's last over he was hammered for a huge six over
mid-wicket by Kanishka Alvitigala as the ball went onto the road over
the Moors pavilian.
Kandurata-Uva Combined: 214 in 44.5 overs (Dimuth Karunaratne 80,
Sachithra Senanayake 43, Dilhan Cooray 33, Bhanuka Rajapakse 28, Ishara
Jayaratne 3/33, Malinda Warnapura 2/23, Sachithra Serasinghe 2/43,
Sajeewa Weerakoon 2/48).
Basnahira: 134 in 35.3 overs (Mahela Udawatte 35, Kithruwan Vithanage
24, Malinda Warnapura 20, Sachithra Serasinghe 18, Dulanjana Mendis
5/33, Dilhara Fernando 3/17, Thilan Samaraweera 1/20, Sachithra
Senanayake 1/28).
Easy for Ruhuna
Ruhuna easily outplayed Uthuru-Negenahira Combined team by seven
wickets in the other Inter-Provincial match played at the R Premadasa
Stadium yesterday.
Chasing a target of 171, middle order batsman Ashan Priyanjan helped
reach the target in 34.4 overs.
The solid 83-run partnership for the third wicket between Priyanjan
and Indika de Saram ended as wicket keeper Sameera de Silva stumped
Saram off Malinga Bandara for 32. Priyanjan scored unbeaten 63 runs in
his patient innings and Chamara Silva was not out on 10.
Batting first, Uthuru-Negenahira Combined team scored 170 runs for
eight wickets.
Inter-Provincial tournament will continue on January 21 (Monday) as
Wayamba will take on Ruhuna at the SSC and Uthuru-Negenahira Combined
will face Basnahira at Moors grounds.
Uthura-Negenahira Combined: 170/8 (Sameera de Zoysa 37, Shantha
Jayasundara 32, Milinda Siriwardena 31, Dilhara Lokuhettige 2/19, JP
Gunaratne 2/28, Dilruwan Perera 1/31).
Ruhuna: 171/3 in 34.4 overs (Ashan Priyanjan 63 n.o, Shehan
Jayasuriya 39, Indika de Saram 32, Maduka Liyanapathiranage 1/24,
Malinga Bandara 1/36, SS Jeewantha 1/40).
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