Sri Lanka’s find of the tournament, Dilshan Munaweera, blasted unbeaten 44 in 23 balls to take Uva Next to the title of the inaugural SLPL tournament, concluded at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday, August 31. Chasing 137 in 15 overs, in reply to Nagenahira Nagas total of 134 for 4, Uva Next batters were storming at the middle with 63 for one on the board after 5.1 overs when a pouring rain came down.
More than 40 ground staffers were struck with a massive cover, few feet away from the wicket as heavy rain dampened the wicket leaving no chance of a replay. However, Uva was home by one ball as the par score on D/L method was 44 after five overs.
Munaweera hit an elegant 44 with five towering sixes and couple of fours while Seekuge Prasanna smashing 15 in 5 balls with two massive sixes.
Earlier Angelo Mathews cracked a power packed unbeaten 73 from 27 balls to steer Nagenahira Nagas to 134 for 4 in 15 overs. The rain hit innings was shortened to 15 overs after play was interrupted by rain in the 10th over.
Mathews hit four towering sixes and 8 boundaries along the ground, leaving only 16 balls to his two partners after the rain. Nagas won the toss and elected to bat under threatening clouds and they were at 47 for 3 when the rain came down after 9.1 overs. However, they picked it up quickly as play resumed and blasted 87 runs off 35 balls.
Mathews hit Dilhara Fernando to all parts of the grounds, steeling 20 runs in 8 balls from his national team-mate.
Being the Nagas skipper, who is also the vice captain of Sri Lanka national team, Mathews completed his half century in 21 balls and ended his innings in style, hoisting a massive six to the last ball of the innings, bowled by Umar Gul.
Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
