Lankans thrash Kent
LANKANS IN TOP GEAR....: The Sri Lankan cricketers are quietly
slipping into top gear if the convincingly victory over Kent in a
50-over game by 128 runs at Canterbury on Friday is an indication.
The Sri Lankan cricketers were at near full strength, missing only
the destroyer Lasith Malinga who was rested after his tough games in the
IPL in the Gulf and India.
Put into bat on a wicket that saw the ball coming on nicely to the
bat in cool conditions with the ball as usual wobbling about, the
batsmen made merry to run up a massive score of 301 for 7 in 50 overs.
Although Kusal Janith Perera from whom much is expected in the
Twenty20 and 50-over games against England fell early, the rest of
the batting clicked to put up a big score and take the game away from
Kent. Opener Tillekeratne Dilshan 35, Kumar Sangakkara who joined the
team after a successful run for Durham 33, Mahela Jayewardene 30, Angelo
Mathews 51, Lahiru Thirimanne 49, Dinesh Chandimal an unbeaten 47 and
Thisara Perera 29 piled on the agony for Kent. Particularly impressive
after Captain Mathews blasted a half century was the stylish right
hander Dinesh Chandimal who again showed that he is form.
He has had a successful run so far and it is hoped that he will carry
the bag full of runs into the big games ahead.
All rounder Thisara Perera who hit the match winning ix against India
in the Twenty20 World Cup final in Dhaka, again batted aggressively to
make 29 and was involved in a blistering partnership of 71 in 48 balls
with Chandimal.
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