Fast-bowling all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne starred with both bat and ball as Colombo beat Dambulla by 82 runs in their opening match of the SLC Super Provincial Tournament 2019 at Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium today (4th April).
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The four-team Provincial Tournament, played in preparation for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup, was off to a flying start when young Avishka Fernando and experienced Upul Tharanga got Colombo to a rollicking start after Dambulla captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and opted to bowl.
Fernando, who had a below-par series in South Africa, raced through to his fifty in 46 balls. The part-time off-spin of Danushka Gunathilaka worked in favour of Dambulla as he got the breakthrough with Tharanga’s wicket in the 13th over.
Few overs later, the introduction of leg-spinner Jeewan Mendis derailed Colombo as he removed four batsmen out of the top five including Fernando. Dinesh Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis made 42 and 31 respectively but Colombo was reeling at 152 for 6 after being 141 for 2 at one stage.
Karunaratne, who won his Test cap in Australia, played a mature knock at number eight to steer the final overs as Colombo posted a decent score of 238 for 9 of their 50 overs. He slammed four boundaries and two sixes to top score with 57 off 53 balls.
Jeewan Mendis was the pick of the bowlers, taking 4 for 36 from his allotted 10 overs.
Chasing 239 runs to win, the Dambulla innings was completely destroyed by the seam of Suranga Lakmal, who dismissed Niroshan Dickwella, Danushka Gunathilaka, and Oshada Fernando cheaply. Mathews, edged behind off Asitha Fernando and Karunaratne joined the party with Sachithra Serasinghe’s wicket as Dambulla were 36 for 5 in the 11th over.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Ishan Jayaratne tried to resurrect the Dambulla innings with 38 and 36 respectively but the top order damage was too much for them to come back as they were bowled out for 156 in the 37th over.
Apart from Lakmal’s three wickets, Asitha Fernando and Chamika Karunaratne took 2 wickets apiece.
Photos: Colombo vs Dambulla | Super Provincial One Day 2019
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avisha Fernando | b Jeevan Mendis | 54 | 52 | 7 | 1 | 103.85 |
| Upul Tharanga | c Niroshan Dickwella b Danushka Gunathilake | 12 | 29 | 1 | 0 | 41.38 |
| Dinesh Chamdimal | b Jeevan Mendis | 42 | 66 | 4 | 0 | 63.64 |
| Kamindu Mendis | lbw b Jeevan Mendis | 31 | 48 | 2 | 0 | 64.58 |
| Kalana Perera | st Niroshan Dickwella b Jeevan Mendis | 6 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Chamara Silva | c Vishwa Fernando b Bhanuka Rajapakse | 29 | 36 | 1 | 0 | 80.56 |
| Shehan Jayasuriya | lbw b Lakshan Sandajan | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Chamika Karunaratne | c Vishwa Fernando b Isuru Udana | 57 | 53 | 4 | 2 | 107.55 |
| Akila Dananjaya | run out () | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Suranga Lakmal | not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 5 (b 0 , lb 1 , nb 1, w 3, pen 0) |
| Total | 238/9 (50 Overs, RR: 4.76) |
| Did not bat | Asitha Fernando, |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vishwa Fernando | 8 | 0 | 44 | 2 | 5.50 | |
| Isuru Udana | 9 | 0 | 71 | 0 | 7.89 | |
| Ishan Jayaratne | 6 | 1 | 29 | 0 | 4.83 | |
| Danushka Gunathilake | 7 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 2.00 | |
| Jeevan Mendis | 10 | 0 | 36 | 4 | 3.60 | |
| Lakshan Sandajan | 10 | 1 | 43 | 1 | 4.30 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niroshan Dickwella | b Suranga Lakmal | 6 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Danushka Gunathilake | c Dinesh Chamdimal b Suranga Lakmal | 3 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 75.00 |
| Oshada Ferenado | lbw b Suranga Lakmal | 6 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 40.00 |
| Angelo Mathews | c Dinesh Chamdimal b Avisha Fernando | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 25.00 |
| Bhanuka Rajapakse | c Shehan Jayasuriya b Kamindu Mendis | 38 | 45 | 4 | 1 | 84.44 |
| Sachithra Serasinghe | c Kamindu Mendis b Chamika Karunaratne | 7 | 12 | 1 | 0 | 58.33 |
| Jeevan Mendis | c Dinesh Chamdimal b Chamika Karunaratne | 10 | 19 | 1 | 0 | 52.63 |
| Isuru Udana | c Avisha Fernando b Akila Dananjaya | 18 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 81.82 |
| Ishan Jayaratne | c Avisha Fernando b Shehan Jayasuriya | 36 | 40 | 3 | 1 | 90.00 |
| Vishwa Fernando | not out | 18 | 43 | 2 | 0 | 41.86 |
| Lakshan Sandajan | c Upul Tharanga b Avisha Fernando | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 13 (b 1 , lb 1 , nb 0, w 11, pen 0) |
| Total | 156/10 (36.3 Overs, RR: 4.27) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Suranga Lakmal | 8 | 2 | 29 | 3 | 3.62 | |
| Shehan Jayasuriya | 4 | 0 | 12 | 1 | 3.00 | |
| Avisha Fernando | 5.3 | 1 | 21 | 2 | 3.96 | |
| Chamika Karunaratne | 5 | 0 | 29 | 2 | 5.80 | |
| Akila Dananjaya | 8 | 0 | 37 | 1 | 4.62 | |
| Kamindu Mendis | 6 | 0 | 26 | 1 | 4.33 | |
