Sri Lanka - A beat Canada by 6 wickets and Redheads rule in Rangiri Dambulla
Sri Lanka A team got off to a fine start today at the Nondescript Cricket Club, Colombo, defeating Canada by 6 wickets with 104 balls to spare.
Promising young star Gihan Rupasinghe contributed with the top score of 74 runs which included 5 boundaries and 4 sixes.
In the bowling department, Farveez Maharoof and Nuwan Pradeep both shone, taking 3 wickets each. IC members will be very pleased to see Maharoof back in action and making such a huge contribution.
Umar Bhatti was the top scoring batsman for Canadian side (34) and busy with the ball too, restricting Chamara Kapugedera to 13 runs.
Sri-Lankan born Canadian player Trevin Basiampillai made a fine contribution with his 33 runs before getting bowled out by Jeewan Mendis.
Fellow Canadian Henry Osinde took the wicket of Mahela Udawatte, no doubt Osinde was reminded of his last appearance at the NCC where he bowled 3 overs in December 09 for Tamil Union Cricket club.
Mahela Udawatte, a brilliant young Cricketer who started off his national career with so much promise, still seems to be struggling with his form. Mahela managed to score distinctively unimpressive 8 runs.
Test opener Tharanga Paranavithana who has been given the chance to open for A team with Mahela Udawatte also failed to impress with the 20 runs scored at a strike rate more suited for Test than a 50 over match.
Canada, Afghanistan & Ireland currently visiting Sri-Lanka and taking part in a four nation series and play against a very strong and capable Sri-Lanka A team.
Meanwhile in the dry zone of central Srilanka, Ireland is braving the dust and heat of Dambulla and battling it out with Afghanistan as part of the Intercontinental Cup series.
Four day match between Ireland and Afghanistan started on the 21st of Jan. At the stumps on day 2, the power of Guinness was very much in evidence when the Irish captain Portersfield scored 78 runs, followed by Gary Wilson's 53 and John Mooney's unbeaten 58.
Despite my initial concerns for his health and safety in the sweltering heat of Dambulla, Red headed Niall O' Brian scored a fantastic 66.
However, not to be outdone by the Irish, Afghanistan is fighting back with style and spirit.
Mangal scored 84, Ali 53. Will Shehza at 60 not out, make history for Afghanistan in historic Rangiri Dambulla tomorrow?
I am holding my breath to see whether the Irish will treat Dambulla spectators to their enchanting Chicken dance. If they do, I am supporting the Irish cause for Test status.
Comments
27 December 2008
35 min 26 sec
Was Cheema playing this match ? and Thanks for the update !
23 December 2008
5 weeks 4 days
Great write up!
20 November 2008
4 days 14 hours
Good post! Good to hear that Maharoof is back in the reckoning. For awhile there I thought he would disappear into the wilderness.
I heard that the the entire stadium is empty in Dambulla. An eerie 30,000 spectator capacity stadium completely empty. Maybe for the Sri Lanka-A matches there may have been a turn out, but since the ground is in the middle of the jungle not even the locals come down to watch the other games.
Colombo, Galle, or Kandy would have drawn a bigger crowd.
20 December 2008
6 weeks 6 days
Thanks NSK. Not as good as yours though
I was inspired by dimithrak.lol.
My first attempt.
As you know, I am not good with words (only figures).lol. But I thought I'd give it a go
I am a big fan of the Irish team.
I am following Sri-Lanka A team on this series very closely, but I couldn't find any articles anywhere.
Not even in SL newspapers.
So I wrote my own
20 December 2008
6 weeks 6 days
It's not in the middle of the jungle. lol.
I know it just gives the impression of that because of the lake and land around it.
It's actually on the main road, not that difficult to get to at all.
But there aren't many people in Dambulla to go watch. Especially a 4 day game between 2 foreign countries.
Last time Sri-Lanka A played there, it was empty too.
It would've been better if they played it in SSC or even Colts.
Somewhere in Colombo would've drawn some Irish tourists as well.
23 December 2008
5 weeks 4 days
Aww thanks SMSD, no it's a good take on those matches and I look forward to many more analyses :-D Maybe of our U19s? Who play SA U19s in 4 hours...ok, back to immediate denture revision.......
Well done. Thanks for the information.
29 August 2009
1 week 1 day
If Ireland gets the test status, west will equalise voting power with Sub- Con. That will create more dramas in the ICC. That means we won't have a world cup for another 20 yrs. It is very interesting to see Afgans doing well along with HK/ Canada.
23 December 2008
28 weeks 1 day
Very good article SMSD. I was following the SL A match too. Udawatta and Kapugedera no consistancy at all. Gihan who looked ragged in the t20 games against NZ was very impressive.
Nuwan Pradeep's story is a interesting one. He seems to be a promising bowler. If time permits I will write about him.
20 December 2008
6 weeks 6 days
That would be lovely Square Cut
We always like to hear interesting stories about players.
Gangster, why are you such a doom and gloom merchant
lol
Why do you think Ireland is going to stop the World Cup for another 20 years?
29 August 2009
1 week 1 day
What I meant, so far asians had an advantage of having a shout in ICC level. Specially with Murali's bowling action issue. Do not forget sub con. could have lost 2011 w/c bid to Aus/NZ if asian voting power was not there.
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