Matara District demolish Hambanthota District by 6 wickets, while Matale District overcame Nuwara Eliya District by 5 wickets in their games worked off today in the SLC Inter-District one-day tournament.
Matara District vs Hambantota District
Hambantota District skipper Manoj Deshapriya won the toss and elected to bat first as the Matara District seam bowlers were too good with the new ball.
19 year-old Nalandian seamer Malinga Amarasinghe was impressive earlier as he grabbed 3 quick wickets to put Hambantota in a spot of bother.
Hambantota District were 4 down for only 7 runs as they eventually dismissed for a hapless 84 runs in 26.1 overs. Shenal Silva made a useful 30 with the bat and he was the top scorer for the lads from Hambantota.
Malinga Amarasinghe was the chief destroyer with the ball as he grabbed 3 wickets for 17 runs, while Dushmantha Chameera picked up 2 scalps to wrap things up.
Chasing a victory target of 85, Matara District came out all guns blazing as they reached the target in 15.4 overs. Left-handed Sandun Weerakkody and Lahiru Udara got to 30 runs in just 3 overs. Weerakkody made a quick fire 21 and Trinity College skipper Shanugeeth Shanmuganathan made a useful 19 to guide Matara District to a comfortable 6 wickets win.
Brief Scores
Hambantota 84 (26.1) Shenal Silva 30, Malinga Amarasinghe 3/17, Dushmantha Chameera 2/19.
Matara 85/4 (15.4) Sandun Weerakkody 21, Shanugeeth Shanmuganathan 19.
Nuwara Eliya District vs Matale District
Nuwara Eliya District skipper Pabasara Waduge won the toss and opted to bat as Nuwara Eliya folded to a below-par 184 in 43 overs. Hard hitting left hander Ruvindu Gunasekara stroked 30 valuable runs along with Primosh Perera who top scored with a classy 35. Kalhara Peiris was outstanding with ball as he completed a 5-wicket haul conceding 25 runs for Matale.
Matale District got to a shaky start as Ruvindu Gunasekara picked up 3 early wickets. Sameera Sadamal along with Kusal Edusuriya put up 84 runs for the 5th wicket as they drove Matale District to a comfortable position.
Right-handed Kusal Edusuriya stroked an unbeaten 90 that included 11 boundaries and a massive six to guide the lads from Matale to a convincing five wicket win over Nuwara Eliya.
Brief Scores
Nuwara Eliya 184 (43) Primosh Perera 35, Ruvindu Gunasekara 30, Shanuka Dulaj 29, Nilanka Sandakan 23, Kalhara Peiris 5/25.
Matale 185/5 (36.5) Kusal Edusuriya 90*, Sameera Sadamal 31, Ruvindu Gunasekara 3/44, Sachithra Perera 2/54.
