Sri Lanka book final spot
TORONTO, Oct 13: Sri Lanka set a final date in the quadrangular Twenty20 tournament with Pakistan after defeating Canada by 15 runs in the last preliminary round fixture on Sunday.
Sri Lanka piled up 153-7 off their 20 overs against Canada for whom opener Rizwan Cheema struck an entertaining 43-ball 68 which briefly hinted at an upset win.
But the hosts fell short with spin wizard Ajantha Mendis grabbing 4-15.
Rizwan smashed six sixes after his side had been reduced to 14-3 and helped his side to 80-3 after 10 overs before Mendis worked his magic.
Sri Lanka’s top-scorer was skipper Mahela Jayawardene with 35 who looked in good touch pulling Eion Katchay for six before stepping onto the front foot to drive classily through the covers.
He fell lbw to Balaji Rao, Canada’s leg-spinner, who returned figures of 3-21.
Scoreboard
SRI LANKA:
S.T. Jayasuriya b Katchay 14
J. Mubarak run out 17
D. Jayawardene lbw b Balaji 35
H. Kulatunga c Baidwan b Balaji 11
T. Kandamby c Rizwan b Balaji 0
T.M. Dilshan st Mulla b Dean 26
K Weeraratne c Dhaniram b Dean 4
L.H.D. Dilhara not out 18
K.M.D.N. Kulasekara not out 19
EXTRAS (B-4, LB-1, W-4) 9
TOTAL (for seven wkts, 20 overs) 153
FALL OF WKTS: 1-26, 2-56, 3-78, 4-79, 5-92, 6-106, 7-133.
DID NOT BAT: C.R.D. Fernando, B.A.W. Mendis.
BOWLING: Katchay 4-0-27-1 (1w); Baidwan 4-0-44-0 (1w); Rizwan Cheema 3-0-22-0; Balaji Rao 4-0-21-3 (2w); Dhaniram 3-0-16-0; Dean 2-0-18-2.
CANADA:
A.A. Mulla c Weeraratne b Fernando 8
Rizwan Cheema c Weeraratne b Mendis 68
Mohammad Iqbal lbw b Fernando 1
Z. Surkari lbw b Fernando 0
S. Dhaniram lbw b Mendis 16
R. David c Fernando b Mendis 14
Balaji Rao c Dilshan b Kulasekara 0
S. Jyoti not out 10
H.S. Baidwan lbw b Mendis 0
E. Katchay c Kandamby b Dilhara 0
A .Dean c Kandamby b Dilhara 7
EXTRAS (B-1, LB-5, W-4, NB-4) 14
TOTAL (all out, 20 overs) 138
FALL OF WKTS: 1-9, 2-14, 3-14, 4-80, 5-105, 6-107, 7-121, 8-122, 9-124.
BOWLING: Fernando 3-0-24-3 (2nb, 1w); Kulasekara 4-0-23-1 (1nb); Mendis 4-1-17-4; Weeraratne 3-0-29-0; Jayasuriya 4-0-33-0 (1w); Dilhara 2-0-6-2 (2w).
RESULT: Sri Lanka won by 15 runs.
UMPIRES: K. Bayney (Canada) and M.R. Benson (England).
TV UMPIRE: A. Maddela (Canada).
MATCH REFEREE: J.J. Crowe (New Zealand).
MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: Ajantha Mendis.
—AFP