Shanaka’s Greys pull off onerun win in thrilling run chase

Pathum Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis during their 102-run stand for SLC Greens

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

The Dialo g-sponsored SLC Invitational T20 League could not have got off to a better start with SLC Greys pulling off a thrilling one-run against SLC Greens in the opening fixture played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday. The second double-header game of the day saw SLC Blues defeat SLC Reds by 56 runs. In the Greys v. Greens contest both teams recovered from poor starts to post a competitive total. Greys were indebted to Sri Lanka’s whiteball captain Dasun Shanaka, who is also the Greys skipper, for pulling them out of a tight situation with a sterling knock of 84 off 41 balls that comprised 5 sixes and 7 fours. It was Shanaka’s innings that saw Greys recover from 109-5 in the 16th over to post a challenging score of 167- 7.

Shanaka and Pulina Tharanga added a valuable 56 off 27 balls for the sixth wicket that saw 103 scored off the last 10 overs. Greens also started badly in their run chase losing both openers for five runs to the off-breaks of Ashian Daniel, but recovered through their third wicket pair Pathum Nissanka (45 off 36 balls) and Kamindu Mendis who stroked a fine 74 off 48 balls (3 sixes, 5 fours) in a stand of 102 off 77 balls. But excellent legspin bowling from Pulina Tharanga (3/22) put the brakes on the Greens scoring rate so that they required 17 off the final over. Ishan Jayaratne made a valiant effort hitting the first ball for six off Nuwan Pradeep, but the Lankan fast bowler used all his experience to concede only nine off the next five to deprive Greens of a win. In a low scoring contest where spinners held sway Blues opting to bat first lost half the side for 69 before recovering to 148-9, a total which later proved to be more than enough to beat Reds who were dismissed for 92 in 17 overs. Legspinner Seekkuge Prasanna and off-spinner Akila Dananajaya shone for SLC Reds picking up five wickets between them. Left-arm spinners Praveen Jayawickrama and skipper Angelo Perera then did the damage for the Reds running through the bottom half of their batting taking two wickets apiece.

Top scorer of the match was Ashen Bandara with 45 off 25 balls for Reds. Meanwhile, SLC has released the names of the coaching staff on duty in Pallekele with the four teams. SLC Blues – Rumesh Ratnayake (head coach), Thilina Kandamby (asst. coach) SLC Reds – Ruwin Peiris (head coach), Sajeewa Weerakoon (asst. coach) SLC Greys – Upul Chandana (head coach), Saman Jayantha (asst. coach) SLC Greens – Darshana Gamage (head coach), Malinda Warnapura (asst. coach)

RESULTS +SLC Greys beat SLC Greens by one run. SLC Greys 167-7 (20) (Dasun Shanaka 84, Chaturanga de Silva 23) SLC Greens 166-6 (20) (Pathum Nissanka 45, Kamindu Mendis 74, Ishan Jayaratne 20*, Ashian Daniel 2/23, Pulina Tharanga 3/22) +SLC Blues beat SLC Reds by 56 runs. SLC Blues 148-9 (20) (Nishan Madushka 20, Sahan Arachchige 36, Ashen Bandara 45, Seekkuge Prasanna 2/34, Akila Dananjaya 3/27) SLC Reds 92 (17) (Nipun D a n a n j a y a 1 4 , P r av e e n Jayaw