The inaugural edition of the Army Commanders League commenced today with the participation of a few national cricketers at Dombagoda Sri Lanka Army Ordinance Corps Ground.
All four teams were in action today, with the Western Warriors and Northern Warriors locking horns in the morning, followed by the contest between the Southern Warriors and Eastern Warriors.
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Western Warriors v Northern Warriors
Northern Warriors Skipper Seekkuge Prasanna won the toss and invited Thisara Perera-led Western Warriors to bat first.
Western Warriors XI – Thisara Perera (C), Avishka Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep, Lakshan Edirisinghe, Samitha Wanigasekara, Pathum Kumara, Harshajith Virendra, Yashoda Mendis, Gayan Chandraboos, Sachin Thilakarathna, Maheesh Theekshana
Northern Warriors XI – Seekkuge Prasanna (C), Dasun Shanaka, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Ashan Randika, Harith Fernando, Shehan Fernando, Heshan Hettiarachchi, Janaka Sampath, Tharindu Kaushal, Bashitha Lakshan, Raveen Perera
Photo Album – Western Warriors vs Northern Warriors | Army Commanders T20 League 2020
Western Warriors completed their innings with a respectable 162 on the board thanks to their Captain Thisara Perera, who fired 40 off 23 balls which included a huge six. 21-year-old Samith Waniagasekara also contributed with a useful 40 runs.
Chasing 163, Northerners were well on their way for a comfortable victory at 2/102 in 13.3 overs with valuable hands from Ashan Randika (39 off 40) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (21 0ff 13). However, a sudden collapse meant the game was tied after them needing 10 off Thisara Perera’s 20th over. T20 specialist Dasun Shanaka led the Northern Warriors with the bat with a 25-ball 42.
Shanaka’s job was not done even after 40 overs, as he returned to face Nuwan Pradeep in the super over and blasted 25, which included 2 sixes and 2 fours. The Westerners could only muster 14 off Heshan Hettiarachchi’s over.
Brief Scores
Western Warriors 162/6 (20) – T Perera 40, Samith Waniagasekara 40
Northern Warriors 162/10 (20) – D Shanaka 42, A Randika 39, M Theekshana 2/26, Y Mendis 2/24, T Perera 2/24
Match Tied – Northern Warriors won on super over
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Southern Warriors v Eastern Warriors
Southern Warriors skipper Dinesh Chandimal won the toss and decided to bat first against Asela Gunaratne led Eastern Warriors.
Southern Warriors XI – Dinesh Chandimal (C), Dushmantha Chameera, Wanindu Hasaranga, Bishan Mendis, Priyantha Rathnayaka, Gihan Koralage, Asantha Basnayake, Janith de Silva, Madushan Bothotage, Dilan Madushanka, Suminda Lakshan
Eastern Warriors XI – Asela Gunaratne (C), Sandun Weerakkody, Chathuranga de Silva, Thulina Dilshan, Pathum Dilshan, Himasha Liyanage, S de Silva, Rajindra Punchihewa, Dushan Vimukthi, Sanjeew Coomarasamy, Ujitha Maduranga
Photo Album – Southern Warriors vs Eastern Warriors | Army Commanders T20 League 2020
Skipper Chandimal and his opening partner Priyantha Rathnayaka gave the Southern Warriors a blazing start before Chandimal ran himself out for 18 off 10, but Rathnyaka compiled a gritty knock of 35. Exciting young star Wanindu Hasaranga made himself useful with rapid innings of 29(18), too. However the much-needed late surge at the death was provided by 23-years-old Gihan Koralage, who hit 3 sixes in his brief innings of 36 off 18, guiding the Southern Warriors to 198.
National cap Sandun Weerakkody boosted the Eastern Warriors chase with the first half-century of the tournament in just 28 balls, before Wanindu Hasaranga ruined the Easterners’ party with an exceptional spell dismissing 3 wickets for just 13 runs. When bad light interrupted the day’s play, the Eastern Warriors were on 140/5, which was 10 runs behind the required DLS score.
Brief Scores
Southern Warriors 198/6 (20) – G Koralage 36, P Rathnayaka 35, A Gunaratne 2/38
Eastern Warriors 140/5 (16) – S Weerakkody 57, A Gunaratne 27*, W de Silva 3/13, M Bothotage 2/32
Southern Warriors won by 10 runs (DLS Method)
