Binura pips Thillakaratne in five set marathon
View(s):Squash Nationals
By David Stephens
Binura Jayasuriya produced the match of his life to beat an in-form Saman Thillakaratne in a five-set (5/11, 19/17, 3/11, 11/1, 11/8)
Binura Jayasuriya in action yesterday. - Pic Ranjith Perera
marathon, and booked himself a place in the semifinals of the men’s bracket of the Janashakthi National Squash Championships, played at the Sugathadasa Stadium yesterday.
Jayasuriya demonstrated tremendous resilience to surge back into the match after trailing 2-1 heading into the fourth, a set which gave him a crucial burst which eventually propelled him over the line.
His journey though will not get any easier as he is set to confront Dilshan Gunawardene in the semis. Gunawardene too had a rugged road through the quarterfinals, as Ravindu Laksiri tested him severely, before surrendering the match 4/11, 11/8, 11/8, 11/7.
In the tournament’s other men’s quarterfinals, Navin Samarasinghe overcame Yasir Izzadeen with a relatively straightforward 11/9, 11/6, 11/1 victory, which Gihan Suwaris mimicked when he dismantled Eranga Alwis 11/5, 11/6, 11/5.
In the women’s open category, Miniliya Methsarani trounced Sanduni Gunawardene 11/6, 11/7. 11/1 to set up a meeting with Gayara Jayasooriya, who beat Fathoum Izzadeen in a 12/10, 6/11, 11/8, 12/10 thriller.
The day’s other two women’s semifinalists were Dulakshi Elikewela and Naduni Gunawardena. Gunawardena made quick work of Wasundara Suwaris, dismissing her 11/5, 11/0, 11/8, while Elikewela was pushed much harder in her 11/7, 11/9, 14/12 victory over a tenacious Raveena Sumathipala.
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