Heavens open up as Colombo joins Galle for final showdown

The washouts also meant that Team Colombo made it through to the final scheduled for the 20th of May and will meet Team Galle who had already booked their place ahead of today’s game. The final will be played at the R. Premadasa International Stadium and will be a day/night encounter.

Ashan Priyanjan’s hot run of form continued when he struck a fluent 73 runs off 77 balls to guide Dambulla to a competitive 257/7 in their allotted 50 overs at the P. Sara Oval. His knock included 6 fours and 2 sixes while more remarkably his innings helped him top the batting run charts at the end of the league stage with 279 runs. Shehan Jayasuriya came second with 275 runs while Upul Tharanga made 272 runs.

TM Sampath and Sachithra Serasinghe also made useful 40’s while Lahiru Madushanka provided some late fireworks with a better than run-a-ball 34*. Charith Asalanka and Jeevan Mendis captured two wickets apiece for Team Kandy.

Only 1.1 overs of play were possible in Kandy’s run chase as the rain came down to bring a premature end to the game and ending Dambulla’s hopes of qualifying for the day night encounter.

Not even one innings was completed in the game between Colombo and Galle at the R. Premadasa International Stadium, but it was good enough for both teams to qualify for the final.

Ramith Rambukwella fell early on after Galle won the toss and batted first, but it was initially the Bhanuka Rajapakse show, before the ever promising Sadeera Samarawickrama took over.

Rajapakse fell for an entertaining 59 but Samarawickrama who has gathered momentum as the tournament progressed, remained unbeaten on 72* when the heavens opened up and Team Galle on 155/2 in 30 overs. The elegant Samarawickrama’s knock also helped him burst into the top five run scorers of the tournament with 234 runs while no further play was possible as the rain continued to pour down.