Nagenahira Nagas prevail by five runs on D/L method
Nagenahira Nagas led by Angelo Mathews began their Sri Lanka Premier League (SLPL) campaign on a winning note when they defeated Ruhunu Royals led by Lasith Malinga by five runs on Duckworth/Lewis method in the first match of the tournament played at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.The inaugural SLPL which got underway at the R. Premadasa Stadium was hampered by rain when Nagenahira Nagas chasing 135 runs for victory was cruising well on 77 for 2 in the 12th over.
This was after Ruhunu Royals skipper Malinga won the toss and elected to take first lease of the wicket made 134 in their allotted 20 overs. The required target for Nagenahira Nagas when play was stopped due to rain was 72 with Travis Birt remaining unbeaten on 33 from 38 balls which included four boundaries and Udara Jayasundara making 25 earlier on in the innings.
Ruhunu Royals four foreign players comprised of two Pakistan and two Australian players; Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Aaron Finch and Daniel Harris while two Australians Travis Birt and Ben Laughlin, Ahmed Shehzad (Pakistan) and Mushfiqur Rahim (Bangladesh) were the foreign players of Nagenahiara Nagas.Ruhunu Royals openers Aaron Finch and Prasanna Jayawardene were feeling uncomfortable and were unable to make any headway as opening bowlers Shaminda Eranga and Kansihka Alvitigala was spot on giving away just one run each in their first two overs. Jayawardena in particular was a bit shaky while Finch who scored the first run of the SLPL played with some confidence.Later Finch hit the first boundary off a delivery of spinner Sachith Pathirana and followed it up with another of Ajantha Mendis but Finch became the first victim of the SLPL with Mendis having the honour of taking the first scalp of the SLPL tournament.
(Prasanna Jayawardene 15, Daniel Harris 19, Lahiru Thirimanne 34, Shahid Afridi 18, Shaminda Eranga 3/15, Ajantha Mendis 3/34, Kanishka Alvitigala 1/17, Ben Laughlin 1/36)
(Udara Jayasundera 25, Travis Birt 33n.o., Lasith Malinga 1/4, Tharanga Lakshitha 1/20)