A blistering 81 runs off 47 balls by Kusal Perera sealed the second win of the day for Sri Lanka ‘A’ against Kenya at the third unofficial T20 played at the Nondescripts Cricket Club.
Having won the toss, Kenya skipper Rakep Patel opted to bat first and his openers Irfan Karim and Steve Tikolo put up 16 runs for the first wicket after which Karim as bowled by Milinda Siriwardena for three runs.
Morris Ouma didn’t last long at the crease as he was caught by Siriwardena off Kosala Kulasekera while on seven runs.
Jeevan Mendis struck four overs later by dismissing Tikolo who was going at a run a ball; he was caught by Lahiru Thirimanne for 29 runs.
Three further wickets by Mendis, a wicket by Shaminda Eranga and a run out by Isuru Udana restricted Kenya to a low score of 122/9 at the end of the 20th over.
Perera made a tremendous start to the Sri Lanka ‘A’ chase by hammering boundaries and sixes to all parts of the ground as he made a quick half century off just 20 balls, his partner Shehan Jayasuriya on the other hand was making slow progress.
The 116-run opening stand was broken by Emmanuel Ringera as he dismissed Perera who was caught by skipper Patel. He departed having made 81 runs which included six fours and five sixes.
Jayasuriya too was dismissed in the very next over as he was caught behind by Ouma off the bowling of Nelson Odhiambo for 32 runs.
Ashan Priyanjan (3*) and Siriwardena (4*) finished things off for the hosts as they required just five runs to clinch victory.
Earlier, Sri Lanka ‘A’ beat Kenya by 53 runs courtesy of some good batting by Danushka Gunathilaka and consistent wickets by the bowlers. See more,
Source: Daily Mirror (Sri Lanka)
