UAE Tri-Nation Final Ratnayake duo steers Sri Lanka ‘A’ to title win

Identical unbeaten knock of by Pavan Ratnayake and Milan Ratnayake paved the way for Sri Lanka ‘A’ to coast to a five-wicket win over Ireland ‘A’ in the final of the of the UAE Tri-Nation ODI series tournament played at the Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi yesterday.

The pair joined together when Sri Lanka ‘A’ chasing a target of 201 were struggling on 43 for five in the tenth over. They sent the Ireland ‘A’ bowlers on a leather hunt by associating in an unbroken 160-run stand for the sixth wicket for Sri Lanka ‘A’ to race to the target in the 35th over to emerge champions.

Pavan cracked 77 in 76 balls which had nine boundaries and two sixes while Milan made his knock oin 83 balls that included nine boundaries and two sixes. 

Chief scores:

At Zayed Stadium – Sri Lanka ‘A’ won by 5 wickets

Ireland ‘A’ 200 in 47.3 overs (Morgan Topping 73, Thomas Mayes 36, Cade Carmimichael 21, Stephen Dohemy 19, Rose Adair 16, Tharindu Ratnayake 4/33, Milan Ratnayake 3/24, Dushan Hemantha 2/51)

Sri Lanka ‘A’ 203/5 in 34.5 overs (Pavan Ratnayake 77 n.o, Milan Ratnayake 77 n.o, Lahiru Udara 16, Thomas Mayes 3/38, Liam McCarthy 2/50).

(MSA)