Chandimal, Thisara steer Colombo to Provincial title

Skipper Dinesh Chandimal struck a masterful century and Thisara Perera claimed four for to lead Colombo to an easy 137-run win over Galle in the Inter-Provincial Limited over cricket final played at R Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.

Chasing a mammoth 308 under lights, Galle were in deep trouble losing four wickets for 59 runs by the 12^th over and were eventually bowled out for 170 in the 31^st over. Thisara Perera was the pick of the bowler claiming four wickets for 41 runs while Sachithra Senanayake contributed with 2 wickets

Batting first, Chandimal and Shehan Jayasuriya propelled Colombo to an imposing total as they shared 139 runs for the fifth wicket at a rapid space. Jayasuriya in particular showed scant respect to the bowlers and scored 77 off 74 before spinner Akila Dananjaya broke the partnership, removing Jayasuriya. Chandimal however continued his onslaught and remain unbeaten on 113 off 117 balls with 11 boundaries and three sixes.

Chandimal was adjudged man of the match and the series while Saddeera Samarawickrama was named best batsman of the tournament.

 Scoreboard

Colombo inning
Dilshan Munaweera c Shanaka b de Silva  27
Leo Fransisco st Samarawickrama b Dhananjaya 16
Kithruwan Vithanage c Samarawickrama b P’kumara 25
Dinesh Chandimal not out 113
Angelo Jayasinghe c Tharanga b Pushpakumara 2
Shehan Jayasuriya c Bhanuka b Dhananjaya 77
Thisara Perera c Prasanna b Shanaka 18
Sachithra Senanayake st Samarawickrama b de Silva 11
Wanindu Hasaranga c Pushpakumara b Shanaka 12
Extras (lb1, b2, w3) 6
Total (8 wickets: 50 overs) 307
Fall of wickets: 1-42, 2-48, 3-94, 4-96, 5-235, 6-267, 7-286, 8-299.
Bowling: Suranga Lakmal 6-0-36-0, Dasun Shanaka 6-0-63-2, Chathuranga de Silva 6-0-53-2, Seekkuge Prasanna 9-0-23-0, Akila Dhananjaya 9-056-2, Sammu Ashan 6-0-42-0, Malinda Pushpakumara 10-1-33-1.
Galle innings
Sadeera Samarawickrama c Perera b Chameera 29
Upul Tharanga lbw b Senanayake 10
Dimuth Karunaratne b Chameera 9
Minod Bhanuka c Perera b Jayasuriya 9
Sammu Ashan lbw b Perera 34
Chathuranga de Silva c Jayasinghe b Perera 34
Dasun Shanaka c Fransisco b Perera 0
Seekkuge Prasanna c Fransisco b Perera 2
Akila Dhananjaya c Jayasuriya b Senanayake 24
Malinda Pushpakumara not out 15
Suranga Lakmal absent 0
Extras (4b, 2lb, w1) 7
Total (all out: 30.3 overs) 170
Fall of wickets: 1-11, 2-34, 3-53, 59, 4-59, 5-112, 6-118, 7-126, 8-127, 9-170.
Bowling: Sachithra Senanayake 7.3-2-34-2, Vishwa Fernando 4-0-24-0, Dushmantha Chameera 7-0-40-2, Shehan Jayasuriya 5-0-19-1, Thisara Perera 6-0-41-4, Wanindu Hasaranga 1-0-5-0.