SKIPPER MALINGA, FINCH AND RUPASINGHE STAR IN RUHUNU ROYALS WIN
Ruhuna Royals skipper Lasith Malinga led from the front, after Aaron Finch and Gihan Rupasinghe laid the foundation, with a four wicket haul to guide his side to a convincing 35-run win on the Duckworth/Lewis method over Uthura Rudras in the sixth match of the Sri Lanka Premier League match played at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.
The two sides came into the game having lost their first match.
A revised target of 154 runs in 16 overs was no doubt going to be a daunting task for Uthura Rudras as they succumbed to a score of just 118 runs. Uthura Rudras began their chase on a sour note by losing the first wicket, that of Imran Farhat with Lasith Malinga striking, in the second ball of the innings. Though Brendan Taylor struck two boundaries in the next over of Jerome Taylor, they underwent another setback with Malinga getting into action again dismissing Taylor whose contribution was 12.
Uthura Rudras were never in the run hunt as they lost wickets at regular intervals as Malinga was supported by his colleagues before he struck later in the innings by grabbing two wickets in his third over to send the opponents reeling.
Ruhunu Royals invited to take first lease of the wicket by Uthura Rudras skipper Jehan Mubarak, were given a sound start by openers Aaron Finch and Gihan Rupasinghe who put on a quick fire 97 runs in even time and in just 65 balls. The pair was separated after Rupasinghe reached his half ton which came in 35 balls that comprised five boundaries and two sixes.
Finch found another reliable partner in Chamara Silva who together further frustrated the Uthura Rudras bowlers, before a drizzle in the 13th over became heavy rain and forced the players back to the pavilion. Though the delay was short another heavy shower thirty minutes later saw the proceedings being delayed for nearly 45 minutes with Ruhunu Royals score on 126 for 1 in 14.3 overs. When it got going again the match was reduced to 16 overs a side and with Ruhunu Royals left to face only nine balls.
Finch who was unbeaten on 55 at that stage added a further ten runs before being caught at long off in the last ball of the innings having made a 48-ball 65 which included six boundaries and two sixes enabling Ruhunu Royals make a formidable score of 145 for 3 from their 16 overs.