Chandimal, Ramanayake star in SLC Reds win

 Himesh Ramanayake of SLC Reds bowls, watched by non-striker Dhananjaya Lakshan of SLC Blues. Ramanayake returned the best figures in the tournament with 4 for 31.

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

SLC Reds skipper Dinesh Chandimal acknowledges his half-century

Skipper Dinesh Chandimal scored back-to-back fifties and fast bowler Himesh Ramanayake re-turned the best bowling figures of the tournament with 4 wickets for 31 runs, as SLC Reds com-pleted their

second successive win in the Dialog SLC Invitational T20 League beating SLC Blues by six wickets at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Ramanayake, son of former Sri Lanka fast bowler Champaka Ramanayake, destroyed the hopes of the Blues, setting the Reds a challenging total when in two successive overs he picked up three of his four wickets. Prior to Ramanayake’s intervention the Blues were cruising nicely at 91-1 in 12 overs. But in the 13th over Chandimal brought Ramanayake back into the attack for his second spell in which he swiftly got rid of Nishan Madushka, who was going well for 25 (off 24 balls), and then sent back the Blues skipper and Sri Lanka white ball vice-captain Dhananjaya de Silva for a golden duck when he skied the first ball he received to midwicket. Off his next over, the 15th of the in-nings, Ramanayake took the key wicket of Dhananjaya Lakshan, who was batting with supreme confidence for a 47-ball 55 (6 fours), forcing him to edge a catch behind the wicket. The over also resulted in the run out of Ashen Bandara for 2 courtesy an Avishka Fernando direct hit from point. The innings went into decline from their onwards and it was only a late spurt by Lahiru Samara-koon, who was 35 not out off 21 balls, that saw the Blues reach a respectable 146-7.

In their chase, Reds lost Monday’s match winner, Avishka Fernando, cheaply for 9, but Chandimal provided the calming influence to his team as he completed his second consecutive fifty – 59 off 44 balls (6 fours) – before being dismissed with his team requiring 30 off 27 balls. Asela Gunaratne and Chamika Karunaratne saw them home with an over to spare.

RESULT:

SLC Reds beat SLC Blues by 6 wickets

SLC Blues 146-7 (20) (Dhananjaya Lakshan 55, Nishan Madushka 25, Lahiru Samarakoon 35*, Chami-ka Karunaratne 2/37, Himesh Ramanayake 4/31)

SLC Reds 148-4 (19) (Dinesh Chandimal 59, Oshada Fernando 27, Asela Gunaratne 23*)