By Ishani Upatharitha
Unbeaten Greys record third win in a row
Unbeaten Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) Greys recorded their third consecutive win to lead the points table in the Dialog - SLC Invitational T20 League day-three at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Monday (16).
Greys won the toss and elected to bat first. They scored 167 runs for four wickets in their 20 overs. Greys' first four wickets fell for 45 runs in 7.5 overs. Openers Lasith Croospulle (7), Minod Bhanuka (0), Kamil Mishara (12), and Skipper Dasun Shanaka (8) all failed to impress.
The right-handed middle-order bat Lahiru Madusanka scored an unbeaten 74 runs in 39 balls, with five fours and five sixes. Left-handed Charith Asalanka made an unbeaten 54 off 47 balls hammering two boundaries and two sixes. Madusanka and Asalanka shared an unbroken stand of 122 for the fifth wicket. Dilshan Madusanka, Maheesh Theekshana, Skipper Dhananjaya De Silva, and Suranga Lakmal claimed a wicket each.
SLC Blues, in their reply, scored only 151 for the loss of seven wickets in the 20 overs. Sadeera Samarawickrama made 58 off 42 balls, inclusive of four fours and three sixes. Ashen Bandara (29), De Silva (16), Angelo Perera (13), and Dhananjaya Lakshan (12) all chipped in. Nuwan Pradeep and Shanaka shared two wickets apiece.
Lahiru Madusanka of Greys was adjudged the Man of the Match.
Match 6: SLC Greys win by 16 runs
SLC Greys: 167/4 (20) (Lahiru Madusanka 74 n.o., Charith Asalanka 54 n.o., Kamil Mishara 12, Dilshan Madusanka 1/16)
SLC Blues: 151/7 (20) (Sadeera Samarawickrama 58, Ashen Bandara 29, Dhananjaya De Silva 16, Angelo Perera 13, Dhananjaya Lakshan 12; Nuwan Pradeep 2/22, Dasun Shanaka 2/24)
Reds record first win
SLC Reds recorded their first win in the series of the Dialog - SLC Invitational T20 League on day three on Monday. Reds beat SLC Greens by 10 wickets in the fifth match of tournament.
Greens batting first scored 143 runs for seven in their 20 overs. Left-handed Kamindu Mendis struck 66 in 43 balls with four fours and two sixes. He has now made three half-centuries in the tournament in three matches. Mendis and Sammu Ashan (29) shared valuable 75 for the fifth wicket. Chamika Karunaratne claimed three wickets for 26 runs as Seekkuge Prasanna claimed two for 20.
Openers Avishka Fernando and Dinesh Chandimal, the Skipper of Reds, made 133 runs for the first wicket in an unfinished and match-winning stand. Fernando scored 82 not out off 53 balls with four fours and six sixes. He became the Man of the Match. Chandimal struck 51 in 48 not out, with four fours and a six.
Match 5: SLC Reds win by 10 wickets
SLC Greens: 143/7 (20) (Kamindu Mendis 66, Sammu Ashan 29, Krishan Sanjula 15, Lahiru Udara 14; Chamika Karunaratne 3/26, Seekkuge Prasanna 2/20)
SLC Reds: 144/0 (17.3) (Avishka Fernando 82 n.o., Dinesh Chandimal 51 retired hurt)
Records, points, and schedule
* Kamindu Mendis of SLC Greens is the highest run-scorer at present in the series. He has scored 193 in three matches, inclusive of three half-centuries. He has maintained an average of 96.50.* Seekkuge Prasanna of SLC Reds is currently the highest wicket-taker. He has claimed six wickets for 63 runs in three games.
* Unbeaten SLC Greys lead the points table with three wins out of three and SLC Blues are in the second place, with two wins in three matches.
* Two games will be held on Wednesday (18), the day four of the tournament. SLC Reds will meet SLC Blues before SLC Greys take on SLC Greens.
Batting:
Player M I NO HS R 50’s Ave
Kamindu Mendis (Greens) 3 2 1 74 193 3 96.50
Dasun Shanaka (Greys) 3 3 0 84 140 1 46.67
Pathum Nisshanka (Greens) 3 3 1 76* 124 1 62.00
Bowling:
Player M I O R W Ave B/B
Seekkuge Prasanna (Reds) 3 3 12 63 06 10.50 2/9
Nuwan Pradeep (Greys) 3 3 12 78 05 15.60 2/22
Pulina Tharanga (Greys) 3 3 12 89 05 17.80 3/22
Today's (18) Fixtures
2.30 pm - SLC Reds vs SLC Blues
7.00 pm - SLC Greys vs SLC Greens