Dimo open with two victories

Dimo took the hard terrain to make a “great escape” like back to back wins in the BMW – Hyundai Cup, Prestige Automobile (Pvt) Ltd., sponsored, MCA “C” division 50-overs League Tournament, which got under way last week-end.

On the opening day, Dimo managed a 14 runs win over Union Bank in a low scoring game and followed up with a 20 runs win over Merchant Credit.

Matheesha Perera came up with a splendid bowling performance (10-334-4) to help Dimo defend their paltry total of 128 against Union Bank, skittled out for 114 runs.

Promising all-rounder, Nipun Karunanayake performed brilliantly in all 3 forms of the game for Dimo in their dramatic win over Merchant Credit.

Karunanayake (95 runs in 133 balls with 10 fours) was associated in a 160-runs, 2nd wicket stand with his skipper, Anushka Polonovita (75) and while bowling broke the threatening seventh wicket, 115 runs stand between Ruchira Silva (40) and Tharindu Perera (73). Karunanayake got Silva C&B and was instrumental in running out Perera.

The bowling highlight came from Std. Chartered’s paceman, Tharindu Fernando (10-36-6), who performed a “hattrick against Softlogic (129 all out in 36.1 overs). Fernando in his (3rd over of the innings) got rid of Tharindu Ranathunga (LBW), Chamara Kodituwakku (bowled) and Sandun Adikari (LBW) in his 2nd , 3rd and 4th deliveries.

Softlogic fought back strongly to have SCB by the ropes (50 for 5), but to be rescued by an unbroken 6th wicket 80 – runs stand between Hiran Rajapaksa (45 not out) and their bowling hero Tharindu Fernando (35 not out) to go home by tea, wining by 05-wickets.

A fighting 95 runs, 8th wicket stand between Nisala Tharaka (92 not out in 55 balls with 05 sixes and 06 fours ) and Shivantha Kumara (35) spear headed Union Bank to a 100 runs win over Commercial Bank “A”

A hurricane opening stand of 110 runs in 11-overs between Chaminda Nirosha (89 runs in 47 balls with 05 sixes and 12 fours) and Warren Helsham (25) propelled Softlogic to a 04 – wickets win over Commercial Bank “A”.

Week end’s Match Results /06 matches.

At P. Sara Oval: Softlogic beat Commercial Bank “A” by 4 wickets

Commercial Bank “A” – 181 in 48.4 overs (L. Liyanage 30, A. Rajapaksa 30, A.R. Nirukshaka 35, Ishara Wickramasinghe 3/55, Gishan Jayaweera 2/25)

Softlogic: 182 for 6 in 34.4 overs (Chaminda Nirosha 89, W. Helsham 25, A.R. Nirukshaka 2/45, P.A. de Silva 2/35)

At Ftz/katunayake: Dimo beat Union Bank by 14 runs.

Dimo- 128 in 42.0 overs (R. Shamen 42, R. Pandithage 20, D. Kumarasinghe 2/20, Shivantha Kumara 4/13)

Union Bank: 114 in 36.3 overs (M. Sandaruwan 20, Shalindra Perera 21, Matheesha Perera 4/34, Chathuranga Fernando 2/15)

At Moratuwa Stadium : Merchant Credit of Sri Lanka beat Std. Chartered by 4 wickets

(Match reduced to 41 overs –a-side, due to wet ground conditions.)

SCB: (sent in) – 115 in 39.3 overs (S. Jamion 27, Amila Perera 4/10, Tharindu Perera 3/25, P. Chandrasekera 2/20)

MCSL: 117 for 6 in 22.4 overs (T. Rajakaruna 47, Namal Fernando 32, T. Fernando 2/35, H. Wickramaratne 3/20)

At P. Sara Oval.: Dimo beat Merchant Credit of Sri Lanka by 20-runs.

Dimo – 246 in 48.3 overs (Nipun Karunanayake 95, Anushka Polonowita 75, R. Shamen 41 not out, S. Perera 2/55, N. Fernando 2/20, A. Perera 2/25)

MCSL – 226 in 47.1 overs (A. Perera 47, R. Nissanka 35, R. Silva 40, Tharindu Perera 73, R. Shamen 2/35, Matheesha Perera 2/45, Chathuranga Fernando 2/40, Nipun Karunanayake 2/14)

At FTZ /Katunayake: Std. Chartered beat Softlogic by 5-wickets

Softlogic – 129 in 36.1 overs (G. Jayaweera 47 not out, R. Gulam 40, Tharindu Fernando 6/36, S. Jamion 2/34, S. Badurdeen 2/15)

SCB – 130 for 5 in 31.5 overs (Hiran Rajapaksa 45 not out, Tharindu Fernando 35 not out, C. Praneeth 3/44)

At Moratuwa Stadium: Union Bank beat Commercial Bank “A” by 100 runs

(Match reduced to 39 overs a side, due to wet ground conditions)

Union Bank (won the toss) 201 in 39 overs (M. Sandaruwan 36, Nisala Tharaka 92 not out, S. Kumara 32, A. Ranasinghe 3/30, Prathap de Silva 4/40)

Commercial Bank “A” – 101 in 26.3 overs (A. Ranasinghe 31, S. Kumara 2/6, Shalindra Perera 2/35, W. Randeniya 3/20)

The tournament will be continued this week-end, January 14th and 15 with a card of six matches (ABF)