The left-handed duo Kusal Perera and Danushka Gunathilaka stroked blistering knocks with the bat as the intra-squad 20-over practice game held between Team KJP and Team Mendis witnessed a high scoring thriller at Old Trafford, Manchester.
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The two teams involved in the practice game were led by national team Skipper Kusal Perera and Vice-Captain Kusal Mendis. The two teams that played in the practice game are as follows:
Team KJP – Kusal Perera (Captain), Oshada Fernando, Pathum Nissanka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Chamika Karunaratne, Isuru Udana, Dushmantha Chameera, Shiran Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan
Team Mendis – Kusal Mendis (Captain), Danushka Gunathilaka, Avishka Fernando, Niroshan Dickwella, Dasun Shanaka, Ishan Jayaratne, Charith Asalanka, Akila Dananjaya, Asitha Fernando, Binura Fernando, Nuwan Pradeep
(*Praveen Jayawickrama was available for both teams)
Having won the toss, Team Mendis managed to put on a mammoth score of 219 for 4 in the allotted 20 overs. The left-handed dashing batsman Danushka Gunathilaka went all guns blazing with a 52-ball 98 runs, being the top-scorer of the innings.
The Skipper Mendis, who failed to make a significant impact in the 50-over practice game held day before yesterday, found some touch with the bat, scoring 42 runs off 31 balls.
The seam bowlers Dushmantha Chameera, Chamika Karunaratne and Isuru Udana picked up a wicket each for Team KJP.
Chasing 220 runs to win, the Skipper Kusal Perera set the tone with the bat and matched the knock played by Gunathilaka, scoring 95 runs off 50 balls. The right-hander Oshada Fernando retired on 50 runs, which came off 34 balls.
The middle order batsmen Dhananjaya de Silva, who made 32 runs off 22 balls and Wanindu Hasaranga, who made 25 runs off 10 balls, gave the late impetus to innings, putting the team over the line in the 20th over.
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In the bowling department for Team Mendis, it was the tall lanky left-arm seamer Binura Fernando who impressed with the ball, picking up 2 wickets for 34 runs.
Brief Scores
Team Mendis 219/4 (20) Danushka Gunathilaka 98, Kusal Mendis 42, Avishka Fernando 32, Dasun Shanka 30, Dushmantha Chameera 1/18, Chamika Karunaratne 1/36, Isuru Udana 1/48
Team KJP 220/3 (19.2) Kusal Perera 95, Oshada Fernando 50*, Dhananjaya de Silva 32*, Wanindu Hasaranga 25, Binura Fernando 2/34, Akila Dananjaya 1/40
Result – Team KJP won by 7 wickets
