Skipper Chandimal steers Colombo to title
A Captain’s knock of an unbeaten 113 in 117 balls that included 11 boundaries and three sixes by Dinesh Chandimal paved the way for Colombo to record an easy 137 runs win over Galle in the final played under floodlights at R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday to take the Super Provincial limited over title.
Galle in pursuit of a massive target of 308 runs was going to be nowhere losing their first wicket on 11 and then losing three more quick wickets with the score on 59 in the 12th over.
Later pacie Thisara Perera dealt a double blow with the wickets of Chathuranga de Silva Dasun Shanaka and then bagged two more wickets that of Seekkuge Prasanna and Sammu Ashan to have them struggling on 127 for 8 in the 26th over.
An inevitable win for Colombo was only delayed by Akila Dhananjaya and Malinda Pushpakumara. They added 43 runs for the ninth wicket and with the injured Suranga Lakmal failing to turn up at the crease saw Colombo coming out victorious.
Earlier Colombo skipper Chandimal won the toss and electing to take first lease of the wicket was given a sedate start of 42 runs by openers Dilshan Munaweera and Leo Fransisco.
Then Chandimal joined by Shehan Jayasuriya and Jayasuriya in particular paid scant respect to the Galle bowlers. The pair frustrated the Galle bowlers and then posted their 100 runs partnership in the 41st over.
The duo was separated having added another 39 runs for a partnership of 139 runs for the fifth wicket with spinner Akila Dhananjaya making the breakthrough with the wicket of Jayasuriya who made a breezy 77 in only 74 balls which had eight boundaries and a six.