The penultimate round of league matches of the Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Super Provincial Limited Over Tournament concluded today(14) with Team Galle and Team Colombo recording wins.
Dambulla vs Galle
More known for his outstanding feats with red ball cricket, Malinda Pushpakumara’s second consecutive impressive performance helped Team Galle to overcome Team Dambulla by 15 runs on the Duckworth-Lewis method. His 3/27 also put him on the top of the list of highest wicket takers with 12 scalps in just four games, while he has a miserly economy rate of 3.35 throughout the tournament.
Upul Tharanga special dismantles Kandy
Colombo vs Dambulla Team Colombo skipper Thisara Perera won the toss and elected…..
Pushpakumara’s spell of bowling and Dasun Shanaka’s three wicket haul made sure Dambulla were bundled out for 287 on a placid batting surface after the game was reduced to 47 overs due to a wet outfield, with Sachithra Senanayake (65) being the only half centurion of the innings for Team Dambulla.
Upul Tharanga who has looked in the form of his life in this tournament, took the P. Sara stadium by storm making a destructive 57 off just 26 balls during the run chase inclusive of 4 sixes and 7 fours. The top order looked solid for Team Galle in their victory with everyone making useful contribution before Sammu Ashan (48*) and Dasun Shanuka (38*) guided them home.
They were 218/3 after 37.3 overs when play was stopped for bad light and no play meant that they were awarded the win by 15 runs on the D/L method. Sachithra Serasinghe bowled best for Dambulla capturing 2/23 off 5 overs.
The win also made sure Galle secured the first spot in the final, while Colombo and Dambulla are still in contention for the other spot with one game to go.
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Colombo vs Kandy
It seems to be a tournament for the left handers as Shehan Jayasuriya and Lahiru Thirimanne continued their impressive run of form following on from Tharanga’s heroics.
Five runs separate the three Sri Lanka caps at the top of the most run scorers list with Jayasuriya leading the way with 275 runs. Tharanga is 3 runs behind him while Thirimanne has made 270 runs being dismissed only twice in four innings.
Sadeera Samarawickrama century drowns Colombo
Kandy vs Dambulla Team Dambulla had a dream start after they won the toss…..
Jayasuriya made 81 off 78 balls at the top of the order after Team Kandy won the toss and inserted Colombo to bat at the R. Premadasa International stadium, while Chamara Silva walked out at number three stroking a fluent half century. Thirimanne has been hitting the ball as clean as ever throughout the tournament and hit 6 sixes in a knock which showed that he has added a new dimension to his game, making an unbeaten 90* off just 69 balls to guide Team Colombo to 309/8 in their allotted 50 overs.
Sachith Pathirana and Danushka Gunathilake shared five wickets between them for Team Kandy as their bowlers fought their way back during the latter parts after Colombo reached 236/2 before Silva was dismissed.
Gunathilake’s half century in reply kept Kandy in the match, but not much support from the other meant the required rate continued to rise and eventually a big shot led to a wicket.
They lost their last 9 wickets for 98 runs to be bowled out for 217 with Wanindu Hasaranga doing bulk of the damage with the ball. He picked up 4/43 while Thisara Perera and Shehan Jayasuriya captured two wickets a piece.
