Ruhuna win to keep semi-final hopes going

Monday, 27 August 2012 00:01 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Ruhuna Royals kept their semi-final hopes alive with a comfortable four-wicket win, having restricted an uninspired Basnahira Cricket Dundee to 123 for 4. Nasir Jamshed guided Ruhuna home in 16.4 overs with a measured 51 from 46 balls, after Aaron Finch had provided an explosive start to the run chase. Wahab Riaz took 2 for 19 for Ruhuna in his last match before the Pakistan players depart for national duty in the UAE.

Basnahira had little to play for, with last night’s Kandurata win ending their chances of reaching the semi-final, and at times in their final match, the lack of motivation showed. Tillakaratne Dilshan’s run out was almost solely down to lethargy. When Rilee Russouw called him for a single to mid-off, Dilshan sauntered down the pitch, when only a sprint would have got him home. A lunge at the end when he realised the throw was already coming in was not enough to save him.

A failure to take risks even with plenty of wickets in hand also hamstrung the innings. Of the seven batsmen who came to the crease, only Cameron Borgas scored at quicker than a run a ball. Ruhuna bowled with discipline, but in failing to even attempt the big shots Basnahira resigned themselves to a poor total they would always struggle to defend. They may have also been hampered by an injury to Russouw, who was hit on the nose by Lasith Malinga as he and Borgas were progressing steadily after two early wickets.

Aaron Finch led Ruhuna’s reply with four fours and two sixes in his bellicose 28, while Jamshed played anchor at the other end. Basnahira’s spinners crimped the flow of runs through the middle overs, but even Rangana Herath’s return of 2 for 16 couldn’t apply sufficient pressure to induce panic. Wickets fell towards the end as Lahiru Thirimanne and Riaz were dismissed in the same Mahmudullah over, but Jamshed ensured there would be no hiccups, crossing fifty just before the winning run came via a no-ball.