Sri Lanka ODI and Test Skipper Dimuth Karunaratne showed his T20 credentials as he struck a whirlwind half-century in an intra-squad T20 game held today at SSC Grounds in Colombo.
After been put into bat first, Dasun Shanaka’s XI put on a mammoth score of 194 runs for 4 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. The Skipper Shanaka top-scored with a rapid knock of 62 runs off 27 balls, including 6 fours and 4 sixes.
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Dinesh Chandimal who just made a brilliant century (149) yesterday in a one-day practice match, continued his good form with the bat by scoring 55 runs off 38 balls with 6 fours and 2 sixes. The opening batsman Pathum Nissanka also chipped in with a valuable 41 runs off 27 balls, including 5 fours and a six.
The speedster Lahiru Kumara was the pick of the bowlers for Dimuth Karunaratne’s XI, as he grabbed 2 scalps for 35 runs while left-arm seamer Vishwa Fernando and Chinaman bowler Lakshan Sandakan managed to pick up a wicket each.
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In reply, the Skipper Karunaratne got their team off to a great start and showed his skills as a T20 batsman, scoring a blistering knock of 89 runs off 53 balls, including 14 fours and a six.
Karunaratne didn’t have enough support at the other end to chase down the target, as they only managed to post 175 runs for 8 wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Apart from Karunaratne, the right-handed batsman Ashen Silva was the only significant contributor with the bat as he made 41 runs off 31 balls.
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The speedster Dushmanth Chameera who bowled an impressive spell in the first T20 practice game taking 3 wickets, shone once again with the ball today, picking up 4 wickets for 23 runs.
The Sri Lanka T20 squad will take part in the upcoming West Indies series yet to be announced, and they are expected to leave for the Caribbean on 23rd February.
Brief Scores
Dasun Shanaka XI – 194/4 (20): Dasun Shanaka 62*, Dinesh Chandimal 55, Pathum Nissanka 41, Danushka Gunathilaka 14, Kamindu Mendis 13, Lahiru Kumara 2/35, Lakshan Sandakan 1/24, Vishwa Fernando 1/32
Dimuth Karunaratne XI – 175/8 (20) : Dimuth Karunaratne 89, Ashen Bandara 41, Oshada Fernando 10, Thisara Perera 14, Dushmantha Chameera 4/23, Nuwan Pradeep 2/19, Wanindu Hasaranga 1/39
