Himesh, Chandimal take major credits in Reds’ second win

Dialog-SLC Invitational T20 League 2021

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SLC Reds recorded a comprehensive victory over the SLC Blues in the 7th game of Dialog-SLC Invitational T20 League 2021.

Being inserted to bat first, SLC Blues got off to a flying start, recording the highest powerplay score of the tournament so far – 52 runs. 

Dhananjaya Lakshan had a rather unfortunate tournament with the bat so far was promoted to open the innings. He scored a worthy half-century, hitting 55 runs off 47 balls at the top of the order. 

Number 3, Nishan Madushka, got off to a good start as the pair took the team to 92 runs under 13 overs. 

A sudden slip from that point saw the team come crashing down to just 146 runs at the end. Blues lost 4 wickets in the span of 6 runs, courtesy of Himesh Ramanayake’s brilliant spell. 

Ramanayake ran havoc in the Blues line-up by picking up 4 wickets for 31 runs, which is also the best spell so far in the tournament. 

Read: Lahiru Madushanka’s swashbuckling 74 keep Greys unbeaten

The Blues did one thing right the death batting. They struck 38 runs in the last 3 overs. Lahiru Samrakoon played his first game for Greys scored a quick-fire 35 off just 21 balls. 

SLC Reds came into the game following a wicket-less win in their previous outing, did not get a similar start today. The highest scorer of the last game for the Reds, Avishka Fernando, walked off early after playing a cut straight into the hands of covers for just 9 runs. 

Skipper Dinesh Chandimal made sure that he remained calm and composed till his team was safe. The 31-year-old brought up his second consecutive half-century to put his team in a commanding position. He scored 59 runs off 44 deliveries before being stumped off Praveen Jayawickrama’s bowling. 

When Chandimal departed, the Reds needed only 40 more runs in 5 overs, which Chamika Karunaratne and Asela Gunaratne duly made sure that they went past the line comfortably.