The intra-squad 50-over practice game held between Team KJP and Team Mendis went down to the wire as the encounter witnessed a thrilling finish ending in a tie.
The two teams involved in the practice game were led by national team skipper Kusal Perera and vice-captain Kusal Mendis.
Read: Dhananjaya Lakshan to miss practice games due to an injury
Teams :
Team KJP – Kusal Perera (Captain), Avishka Fernando, Danushka Gunathilaka, Dhananjaya De Silva, Dasun Shanaka, Chamika Karunaratne, Ishan Jayaratne, Binura Fernando, Lakshan Sandakan, Akila Dananjaya, Nuwan Pradeep.
Team Mendis – Kusal Mendis (Captain), Oshada Fernando, Charith Asalanka, Pathum Nissanaka, Niroshan Dickwella, Wanindu Hasaranga, Ramesh Mendis, Isuru Udana, Dushmantha Chameera, Asitha Fernando, Shiran Fernando, Praveen Jayawickrema.
Having won the toss, Team Mendis managed to put on 250 runs for 9 wickets in the allotted 50 overs. The all-rounder Ramesh Mendis top scored with a knock of 71 runs off 89 balls.
Read: Sri Lanka cricketers agree to sign tour declaration
The seaming all-rounder Isuru Udana also shone with the bat chipping on with 44 runs off 57 balls while the opening batsman Oshada Fernando put on 39 runs helping Team Mendis to a respectable score at the end.
The off-spinner Akila Dananjaya and the seamer Chamika Karunaratne starred with the ball taking 3 wickets apiece.
Interestingly, the match ended in a tie as Team KJP scored the same number of runs (250) losing the same number of wickets (9) at the end of 50 overs. The dashing opening batsman Avishka Fernando made a stirring case with the bat top scoring for Team KJP with 64 runs while all-rounder Dasun Shanka chipped in with a knock of 44 runs.
Read: Mathews, Karunaratne left out again; Avishka Fernando returns
Speedsters Asitha Fernando (3/43) and Dushmantha Chameera (2/26) were the star performers with the ball for Team KJP.
Brief Scores
Team Mendis 250/9 (50) Ramesh Mendis 71, Isuru Udana 44, Oshada Fernando 39, Akila Dananjaya 3/28, Chamika Karunaratne 3/38, Binura Fernando 2/38, Nuwan Pradeep 1/20
Team KJP 250/9 (50) Avishka Fernando 64, Dasun Shanaka 44, Danushka Gunathilaka 30, Kusal Perera 28, Asitha Fernando 3/43, Dushmantha Chameera 2/26, Praveen Jayawickrama 2/44, Wanindu Hasaranga 1/37, Ramesh Mendis 1/39
Result – Match Tied
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charith Asalanka | b Binura Fernando | 3 | 17 | 0 | 0 | 17.65 |
| Oshada Fernando | c Kusal Perera b Chamika Karunaratne | 39 | 34 | 7 | 0 | 114.71 |
| Pathum Nissanka | b Chamika Karunaratne | 16 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 114.29 |
| Kusal Mendis | b Nuwan Pradeep | 19 | 19 | 1 | 1 | 100.00 |
| Niroshan Dickwella | c Binura Fernando b Akila Dananjaya | 13 | 27 | 1 | 0 | 48.15 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | c Asitha Fernando b Akila Dananjaya | 5 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 45.45 |
| Ramesh Mendis | c Akila Dananjaya b Binura Fernando | 71 | 89 | 5 | 0 | 79.78 |
| Isuru Udana | c Ishan Jayaratne b Akila Dananjaya | 44 | 57 | 5 | 0 | 77.19 |
| Dushmantha Chameera | c Ishan Jayaratne b Chamika Karunaratne | 5 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 55.56 |
| Asitha Fernando | not out | 12 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Shiran Fernando | not out | 6 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Extras | 17 (b 1 , lb 10 , nb 0, w 6, pen 0) |
| Total | 250/9 (50 Overs, RR: 5) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Binura Fernando | 9 | 0 | 38 | 2 | 4.22 | |
| Nuwan Pradeep | 5 | 1 | 20 | 1 | 4.00 | |
| Chamika Karunaratne | 8 | 1 | 38 | 3 | 4.75 | |
| Ishan Jayaratne | 9 | 0 | 50 | 0 | 5.56 | |
| Akila Dananjaya | 7 | 0 | 28 | 3 | 4.00 | |
| Dasun Shanaka | 5 | 0 | 17 | 0 | 3.40 | |
| Lakshan Sandakan | 7 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 6.86 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Danushka Gunathilaka | c Isuru Udana b Dushmantha Chameera | 30 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 111.11 |
| Avishka Fernando | c Shiran Fernando b Asitha Fernando | 64 | 71 | 5 | 2 | 90.14 |
| Kusal Perera | b Ramesh Mendis | 28 | 25 | 3 | 0 | 112.00 |
| Dhananjaya de Silva | c & b Wanindu Hasaranga | 22 | 37 | 2 | 0 | 59.46 |
| Dasun Shanaka | c Asitha Fernando b Praveen Jayawickrama | 44 | 54 | 1 | 2 | 81.48 |
| Chamika Karunaratne | c Niroshan Dickwella b Asitha Fernando | 6 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 30.00 |
| Ishan Jayaratne | c & b Dushmantha Chameera | 18 | 34 | 0 | 0 | 52.94 |
| Akila Dananjaya | c Pathum Nissanka b Asitha Fernando | 15 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Binura Fernando | b Praveen Jayawickrama | 6 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 85.71 |
| Lakshan Sandakan | not out | 9 | 11 | 1 | 0 | 81.82 |
| Nuwan Pradeep | not out | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 8 (b 1 , lb 0 , nb 0, w 7, pen 0) |
| Total | 250/9 (50 Overs, RR: 5) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dushmantha Chameera | 6 | 0 | 26 | 2 | 4.33 | |
| Isuru Udana | 4 | 0 | 32 | 2 | 8.00 | |
| Shiran Fernando | 4 | 1 | 23 | 0 | 5.75 | |
| Asitha Fernando | 8 | 0 | 43 | 3 | 5.38 | |
| Ramesh Mendis | 6 | 0 | 39 | 1 | 6.50 | |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 10 | 0 | 37 | 1 | 3.70 | |
| Charith Asalanka | 2 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2.50 | |
| Praveen Jayawickrama | 10 | 0 | 44 | 2 | 4.40 | |
