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Wednesday, 25 August 2021 01:09 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
SLC Greys celebrate their win over SLC Reds in the final
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
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| SLC Greys opener Minod Bhanuka gives the thumbs up sign after reaching his half-century |
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| SLC Greys skipper Dasun Shanaka at his destructive best hammering 48 not out off 17 balls
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SLC Greys led by national white ball captain Dasun Shanaka were crowned as champions of the Dialog SLC Invitational T20 League when they came up with a compelling performance to outplay SLC Reds by 42 runs in the final played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
The winners picked up prize money worth Rs. 2 million and the Dialog Invitational T20 Champions Trophy and the runner-up Rs. 1.5 million.
After posting an imposing total of 201-4, Greys dismissed the Reds for 159 in the final over with a combination of brilliant bowling and fielding to totally outplay them in all departments.
Shanaka knew that taking early wickets would definitely slow down the run chase for the Reds and he employed his frontline bowlers in the first power play to capture three wickets for 39 runs – that included the wickets of inform batters Avishka Fernando (10) and Dinesh Chandimal (14) to push the opponents onto the backfoot from which position they were never able to regain any momentum as the asking rate gradually climbed to the point that the Reds lost wickets attempting to force the pace.
Top scorer for Reds was Oshada Fernando with 46 off 27 balls with no one else making any worthwhile contribution as the Greys with a variety of bowling options were simply too good on the day.
Greys came up with a dazzling display of batting after opting to bat first to notch up a commanding total of 201-4 to put the Reds under immense pressure.
Greys’ opener Minod Bhanuka who has not been in the best of form saved his best for the last leading the charge with a 51-ball innings of 74 that comprised 12 fours. His third wicket partnership of 82 off 58 balls with Nuwanidu Fernando helped lay the ideal platform for the Greys’ captain Dasun Shanaka to come and play one of his destructive knocks which he is renowned for.
Although Shanaka lost the fast-improving Fernando for a well compiled 47 off 36 balls (5 fours) in a stand of 53 off 26 balls, his dismissal only paved the way for the Lankan white ball captain to showcase his overpowering batting skills as he smashed 4 sixes and 4 fours in a display of clean power hitting that fetched him 48 not out off 17 balls.
Shanaka’s late onslaught of the Reds’ bowlers saw the Greys’ total skyrocketing by 81 runs off the last 5 overs.
Reds had only themselves to blame for allowing Greys to run away towards a match-winning total. The Greys top scorer Bhanuka was dropped twice by Santhush Gunathilaka who had a torrid time on the field and there were also a couple of half chances that went begging which helped sway the Grays total.
With the exception of spinner Akila Dananjaya who picked up 2 wickets for 24 runs the rest of the Reds bowling had very little to show in terms of economy.
Scores
