Scotland witnesses Kulatunga pyrotechnics

Sri Lankan veteran slams 124 off 89 balls for Drumpellier Cricket Club

By Staff Writers

Jeevantha Kulatunga in action in the Scottish National Cricket League. © Ian POTTS/Forfarshire Cricket Club.

May 17, 2011 (Island Cricket): Playing for Drumpellier Cricket Club, Jeevantha Kulatunga launched a spectacular assault against the Forfarshire Cricket Club’s bowlers, scoring a 124 runs off just 89 balls in the Scottish National Cricket League’s Premiership tournament match played on May 15.

In a rain interrupted 50-over fixture, walking in at the fall of both openers early and chasing a stiff total of 284 to win from 46 overs, the Sri Lankan veteran took complete control of proceedings, smashing the bowling to all corners and raising his half century in only 59 balls.

The 37-year-old then smashed 74 runs off his next 30 deliveries, bringing Drumpellier close to an unlikely victory. He was brutal, even hitting four consecutive sixes off the bowling of off spinner Graeme Black. Kulatunga finished with twelve 4s and eight 6s and the fall of his wicket led to a middle order collapse that saw his side lose by 36 runs.

Despite amassing over 8000 first-class runs and playing twenty years of first-class cricket in Sri Lanka, the talented all-rounder was only given an opportunity to represent his country in two Twenty 20 matches in a triangular series in Canada in 2008.

Scorecard

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