Major Chandimal and Kusal Mendis shine in losing causes
Kusal Mendis returned to the limelight with a blistering 113 - Pic courtesy Sameera Peiris
Two adventurous innings from skipper Seekkuge Prasanna and national cap Dasun Shanaka guide Super Fashion Northern Warriors to a close 2-wicket win over Prima Stella Eastern Warriors in an Army Commander’s T20 played at the Army Cricket Ground in Dombagoda last evening.
Chasing a modest 167 to win Super Fashion were in deep trouble after losing 3 wicket for 12 runs but Prasanna launched a merciless attack on the bowlers smashing a blistering 67 off 29 balls (6×7, 4×4) to set the platform for a thrilling win. Shanaka then put the finishing touches with a fighting 59 off 46 balls. Shanaka was sent back to the pavilion just two runs away from the victory.
Earlier Kusal Mendis smashed a swashbuckling 113 as Prima Stella Eastern Warriors batting first put on a decent 166 for the loss of five wickets. Mendis single-handedly lifted their total with his unbeaten knock which came off in just 66 balls with five sixes and 11 boundaries.
Earlier in the day Major Dinesh Chandimal smashed a quick-fire 67 off 38 balls but could not prevent Melbn Western Warriors snatching a comfortable 55-run win over Dimo Southern Warriors in their match played yesterday morning.
Chandimal, who was adorned as an Army Major attached to the Volunteer Force along with Thisara Perera, struck seven sixes and two boundaries in his brilliant knock but lacked the support to chase a formidable total of 175.
Man-of-the-match Harshajith Veerendra claimed three wickets including the prized wicket of Chandimal for 32 runs while Perera and Gayan Bandara picked up two wickets apiece.
Avishka Fernando stroked a fluent 56 off 38 balls including three sixes and four boundaries to help Melbn to a formidable 175 for the loss of eight wickets. Apart from Fernando, Samith Dilshan, Yashoda Mendis and Veerendra contributed with the bat. Madushan Bothotage was the pick of the bowler for Dimo capturing 2 for 39.
| Scores | |
Prima Stella Eastern Warriors 166/5 (20) (Kusal Mendis 113n.o, Thulian Dilshan 10, Asela Gunaratne 10) Super Fashion Northern Warriors 167/8 (19.2) (Seekkuge Prasanna 67, Dasun Shanaka 59 , Sajeeewa Coomaraswamy 2/14, Hashan Sandeepa 2/17)
Melbn Western Warriors 175/8 (20) (Avishka Fernando 56, Harshajith Veerendra 23, Samitha Dilshan 32, Yashoda Mendis 25; Madushan Bothotage 2/39) Dimo Southern Warriors 120 all out (17.3) (Dinesh Chandimal 67, Thushara de Zoysa 24; Harshajith Veerendra 3/32, Gayan Bandara 2/14, Thisara Perera 2/11) |