Sangakkara guides Kandurata to second win

By M. Shamil Amit

Sanga once again proved why they have rated him as No. 1 - Pic by Ranjith Perera

MAS Holdings Kandurata skipper Kumar Sangakkara put in another superlative batting display when he cracked an 84 ball knock of 96, with six boundaries and two sixes. This score helped Sangakkara to guide his side to an easy 192 run win over E-Wis Basnahira North at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Sangakkara was supported by two fine knocks. In the first he was associated with opener Tharanga Paranavithana with whom he added a valuable 118 run partnership for the third wicket. The other was an unbeaten 60 by Chamara Kapugedera who shared a 80 run stand for the fourth wicket. This helped Kanduarata to reach a formidable 296 for 5.

Basnahira North having won their two previous games was no where close to their old form. They lost their first four wickets for 40 runs in the ninth over. These included batsmen who cracked half tons in the previous game - Avishka Gunawadena, Ruwin Peiris and Shanuka Dissanayake - with the last two going for ducks.

In the early stages skipper Sangakkara only used his pacies Akalanka Ganegama, Kaushalya Weeraratne and Thilina Thushara. This trio obliged the skipper to obtain the much needed breakthrough.

Muttiah Muralitharan was brought in only after 24 overs with Basnahira North struggling at 92 for 9. Ultimately it was Muralitharan who finished off the innings. Murali dismissed Dhammika Prasad and Basnahira North were bundled out for 104 in 26.3 overs.

MAS Holdings Kandurata 296 for 5 in 50 overs (Kumar Sangakkara 96, Tharanga Paranavithana 75, Sajith Fernando 18, Chamara Kapugedera 60 n.o.)

E-Wis Basnahira North 104 in 26.3 overs (Dhanuka Pathirana 20, Gayan Wijekoon 19; Thilina Thushara 3 for 18, Kaushalya Weeraratne 2 for 19, Akalanka Ganegama 2 for 35)

Ruhuna crash again
Hirdaramani Ruhuna succumbed to their second defeat of the inter-provincial limited over cricket tournament when they were beaten by 39 runs by Lanka Bell Wayamba in a rain shortened encounter at the Welagedera Stadium in Kurunegala yesterday.
No play was possible in the morning session due to heavy rain. When the green light was given after the lunch session, the match was curtailed to 22 overs.

Wayamba sent in to bat first lost two quick wickets. They were however propped up by a third wicket partnership of 56 runs between Mahela Udawatte and Jehan Mubarak. This helped them to make an imposing 143 for 5 in their 22 overs. Mubarak was the top scorer with a 47 ball knock of 47 which included four boundaries.

Ruhuna sans skipper Sanath Jayasuriya in their run chase, struggled as pacies Farveez Maharoof, Ishara Amarasinghe and Ajantha Mendis broke the back bone of the top order batting to send them reeling at 60 for 5 at the half way stage. The batting was a repeat of their first game with none of the batsmen being able to make any useful contribution. Spinner Kaushal Lokuarachchi put the finishing touches to end the Ruhuna innings for 104. Lokuarachchi ended with figures of 4 for 24 while Maharoof took 3 for 19.

Lanka Bell Wayamba 143 in 22 overs (Mahela Udawatte 26, Jehan Mubarak 47 n.o., Farveez Maharoof 23 n.o.; Sachitra Senanayake 2 for 28)

Hirdaramani Ruhuna 104 in 20.4 overs (Anil Ridigammanagedera 26, Kosala Kulasekera 20, Gihan de Silva 15; Kaushal Lokuarachchi 4 for 24, Farveez Maharoof 3 for 19)