Kotelawala Defence University Blues (KDU) began the KDU Leaders’ Trophy 2016 – T20 tournament with a thrilling one run win over Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT).
Batting first, KDU impressed with the bat amassing 163 for the loss of 8 wickets in their allotted overs. Opening batsman, right-handed Ramith Gunarathne top scored with 52 off 31 balls as he smashed the bowling all around the park.
Fellow opener Manula Jayasekara made a solid 21 off 24 balls as middle order batsman Omesh Vidyarathna finished off the innings with a quick fire 24 off 14 balls to take the hosts to their total of 163.
Mathisha Jayawardena (2/19) and Pramud Perera (2/29) impressed with the ball picking up two wickets a piece.
Poor discipline in running between the wickets cost IIT the match as they fell short by a single run. Even though IIT opening batsman Nikila Weerasinghe played a brilliant innings as he ripped into the KDU bowling cracking 79 off just 54 deliveries. Mathisha Jayawardena was the only other batsman to make a significant contribution as he made 21 off 8 balls.
Fast-bowler, Vidyarathna (2/24) and left-arm spinner, Harith Samarasinghe (2/29) were the pick of the bowlers for KDU with four wickets between them.
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Brief Scores:
KDU Blues – 163 for 8 in 20 overs. (Ramith Gunarathne 52, Omesh Vidyarathna 24, Manula Jayasekara 21 Mathisha Jayawardena 2/19, Pramud Perera 2/29)
IIT – 162 for 8 in 20 overs. (Nikila Weerasinghe 79, Mathisha Jayawardena 21, Omesh Vidyarathna 2/24, Harith Samarasinghe 2/29)
Result: KDU Blues beat IIT by 1 run.
 began the KDU Leaders’ Trophy 2016 – T20 tournament with a thrilling one run win over Informatics Institute of Technology (IIT).){kind=link}