Bhanuka stars in commanding win

Singer-MCA Premier League 2020

John Keells Skipper Bhanuka Rajapaksa, back in the side after touring the Australia with the national side, scored a brisk 66 off 60 deliveries, inclusive of six boundaries and four sixes, as he steered his side to a 13-run win (D/L method) over Dimo, in the 27th Singer-MCA Premier League 2020 at the Colts Grounds on Wednesday. 

The match got off to a late start due to a wet wicket, and was subsequently reduced to 39 overs a side. 

John Keells sent into bat put up a challenging 234 for 8 in 39 overs with Bhanuka leading the way, he was well supported by Ashen Silva  (58 in 59 balls with four sixes & four fours).

Dimo took the challenge well, as Ramesh Mendis (49) and Matheesha Perera (39) went head on with a vibrant 77-run stand in 40 balls for the 6th wicket.

With the light fading, Dimo had to rush to keep up with required D/L score and lost quick wickets in the process to Ashen Silva (7-26-2) , Chamika Edirisinghe  (7-44-2) and Ishan Jayaratne  (6-31-2).

When play was eventually suspended for bad light in the 34th over Dimo were on 195/8, an agonizing 13 runs short.

John Keells thus completed their quota of matches with two wins, one loss and three no-results; Dimo finished the round-robin stage with no wins, four defeats and two no-results. 

Scorecard

John Keells : 234/8 (39) (Bhanuka Rajapaksa 66,  Ashen Silva 58,  Roshen Silva 33,  Dimuth Karunaratne 25,   Ramesh Mendis 3/49,  Sammu Ashan 2/34,  P. Madushan 2/40) 

Dimo: 195/8 (34) ( Ramesh Mendis 49,  Matheesha Perera 39,  Thikshila de Silva 31, Ashen Silva 2/26,  Chamika Edirisinghe 2/44,  Ishan Jayaratne 2/31)