Uva Province stun Central

by S.M. Jiffrey ABDEEN - kandy Sports Corr.

Less fancied Uva Province continued their upset trail when scored another stunning victory by defeating the more fancied Central Province by 46 runs in their Sri Lanka crickets under-17 inter-provincial cricket tournament match played at Pallekele International Stadium, yesterday.

Uva Province who earlier this week beat the strong Western Province south outer proved that this win was no flash in the pan, and that they are a team to be watched.

Batting first Uva Province ran up a huge total of 303 for 8 wickets in 50 overs, scoring at an average of six runs per over.

Nuski Ahamed from Al Ashrooq Muslim Vidyalaya, Kalmunai, a school hardly known in cricket circles scored a majestic 107 with 11 fours and three sixes off 126 balls laying the foundation for this huge total.

Later Lakshitha Pradeep used the long handle to score a quick fire 85 with 5 sixes and 11 fours off 51 balls - 74 of his runs came with hits to the ropes.

He was associated in a third wicket stand of 101 with Nuski Ahamed.

Central Province chasing this huge total made a gallant bid but could go only up to 257 leaving Uva winners by 46 runs.

Antonian Nimesh Gunasinghe made 50 with three fours and one six off 51 balls while Mohamed Nuslan top scored with hard hit 67 with 7 fours and 3 sixes off 56 balls.

Uva Province: 303 for 8 wickets in 50 overs (Nuski Ahamed 107, Mahela Bandara 24, Chanuka Manatunga 38, Lakshitha Pradeep 85, Ron Chandragupta 2 for 47, Tharaka Somatillake 3 for 46).

Central Province: 257 all out in 47.5 overs (Kavinda Pullukuttiarachchi 35, Nimesh Gunasinghe 50, Mohamed Nuslan 67, Sasi Madusanka 3 for 40, Gehan Kavinda 2 for 41).