Cosmos SC wins Minister Dilan Perera trophy

by S.M. Jiffrey Abdeen Kandy Sports Cor.

An entertaining knock of 41 with 4 sixes and 3 fours by middle-order batsman Madurange Perera guided Cosmos Sports Club, Bandarawela to a thrilling one-wicket win over Veals Park Sports Club, Badulla to become champions at the Dilan Perera Twenty 20 inter-club Cricket Championship organised by the Badulla District Cricket Associations and Sponsored by Dilan Perera Solidarity Fund.

The match was played at Badulla Cricket Grand test Sunday Cosmos Sports Club won with 2 balls to spare.

This tournament was the brain-child of Minister of Foreign Employment and Welfare and Badulla District Parliamentarian Dilan Perera who arranged for the funds to conduct this tournament which spread over several Months.

Thirtytwo (32) clubs from the Badulla District participated in this championship which was conducted for the fourth time.

This final was played in a carnival atmosphere with the player wearing coloured kits and a white ball kits and white balls being used.

Veals Park sports club taking first lease of the wicket made 131 for 7 in their 20 over D.P. Kariyawasam top scored with 22. Though six batsmen entered double figures there were no big individual scores as most batsmen got out by trying to score quickly.

Cosmos sports club chasing a victory target of 132 were in dire straits at one stage with the scoreboard reading 45 for 4 in 10 overs.

But with the advent of Maduranga Perera the entire complexion of the game changed.

He decided that attack is the best form of defence and the very first ball he faced was despatched for six with the ball sailing over long and landing in the main road.

He clobbered three more sixes not only to accelerate the scoring but also to put Veals Park SC back in the game. He was out in trying to fend a rising delivery and was caught at cover point.

With his dismissal the Pendulum Swung in forever of Veals Park SC as wicket started falling at regular intervals. Cosmos Sports Club needed 7 runs in the final over with the last pair in.

H.M. Suraj gave a fairy tale end to the match when he struck the fourth delivery over mid wicket for a huge six to sign off.

The winning team received the Dilan Perera challenge trophy and Rs. 50,000.

The runners-up received the Dilan Perera Challenge trophy and Rs. 30,000.

The recipients of individual awards too received trophies cash awards.

Best Bowler: Mohamed Kadeer (Veals Park SC)

Best Batsman: H.M. Suraj (Cosmos SC)

Man of the finals: Maduranga Perera (Cosmos SC)

It was a well organised tournament and the finals produced exciting cricket with the spectator on the edge of their seats as the game swung from one side to the other.