In the first day of SLUG cricket quarterfinals, UVA took the challenge to one of the favourites, UOC at the Panadura Public Grounds. On a pleasant morning under a clear sky that promised a full day of cricket, both the teams eagerly set to take charge on the field with experienced senior players and promising new additions. UVA saw the better of SEUSL in their first round match while UOC got the walk over straight into the quarterfinals.
Captain of UVA M. H. S. Hussain won the toss and decided to take the first lease of the wicket. They had a shocking start to the proceedings as both the openers were removed within the first two overs with nothing to show on the runs column. Captain of UOC side A. G. C. S. Wijewardene and left arm fast bowler T. M. Sethunga purchased movement off the seam and kept the scoreboard silent in the early power play overs with an excellent spell of a disciplined bowling attack. At the end of first ten overs, UVA scored a devastating 26 for the loss of four wickets. M. J. J. Hassan and M. H. S. Hussain then built a steady partnership and managed to take the upper hand against the spinners of UOC with at least a boundary every over. The former cleared the fence twice in the over before the drinks break that shifted the momentum towards the batting side.
However, the captain of UOC picked a leaf out of his thinking hat and brought the pace bowlers back into the attack. The damage was inevitable as the next two overs witnessed the departure of both set batsmen to the dressing room for 33 and 20 respectively. Hope didn’t fade away for the spirited UVA side as the lower middle order batsman W. N. U. Perera scored a quick fire 34 and took the score past 100. The resistance didn’t last long and UVA was rotten all out for a mere 119 runs in the 30 th over. The influence of the opening bowling pair is commendable as they shared the first seven wickets of the innings between them.
The second innings began with immediate effect and the openers H. P. N. Kodithuwakku and T. M. De. S. Rajaratne had no hesitance to finish off the match before the lunch break. They got off to a dream start with boundaries flying all over the park. They made the pitch look totally different from the first innings and exhibited a flippant show to steal the match home. The former got out eventually but the new batsman K. U. D. V. Padmalal took the responsibility and guided the team towards the target. UVA was put under pressure by some excellent shot making and neat timing by the couple on the crease. UVA couldn’t hold onto half-the-chances which came their way and fell miserably in the tactical aspects. On the other hand, T. M. De. S. Rajaratne completed his well-deserved 50.
The score was 112/1 at the nominal lunch break time. Umpires and teams decided to play off the match as it was all over so early in the day for UVA. The winning runs were eventually hit in the 20 th over with 9 wickets in hand and UOC booked a place in the semifinal with tons of confidence in the camp eyeing the ultimate silverware. Talking to MoraSpirit, the UOC captain had this to say: “We are very happy with the win. We set our target very high so we wanted to win it. Our bowlers have done a pretty decent job. I’m happy with myself for the four wickets I got. Our spinners are fresh and adopting to the new power play rules. Our batsmen took the advantage of field restrictions. Our fielding needs to improve but we are doing well so far. We are looking forward to the semifinal.”
En route to final, UOC will face the winners of the third quarterfinal which is to be played on the 21st between WAY and KEL in the grounds of UOM. MoraSpirit takes pleasure in congratulating UOC for their success today and wishing them “good luck” in the semifinal.
By R. Arunothayan
(MoraSpirit)
Captain of UVA M. H. S. Hussain won the toss and decided to take the first lease of the wicket. They had a shocking start to the proceedings as both the openers were removed within the first two overs with nothing to show on the runs column. Captain of UOC side A. G. C. S. Wijewardene and left arm fast bowler T. M. Sethunga purchased movement off the seam and kept the scoreboard silent in the early power play overs with an excellent spell of a disciplined bowling attack. At the end of first ten overs, UVA scored a devastating 26 for the loss of four wickets. M. J. J. Hassan and M. H. S. Hussain then built a steady partnership and managed to take the upper hand against the spinners of UOC with at least a boundary every over. The former cleared the fence twice in the over before the drinks break that shifted the momentum towards the batting side.
However, the captain of UOC picked a leaf out of his thinking hat and brought the pace bowlers back into the attack. The damage was inevitable as the next two overs witnessed the departure of both set batsmen to the dressing room for 33 and 20 respectively. Hope didn’t fade away for the spirited UVA side as the lower middle order batsman W. N. U. Perera scored a quick fire 34 and took the score past 100. The resistance didn’t last long and UVA was rotten all out for a mere 119 runs in the 30 th over. The influence of the opening bowling pair is commendable as they shared the first seven wickets of the innings between them.
The second innings began with immediate effect and the openers H. P. N. Kodithuwakku and T. M. De. S. Rajaratne had no hesitance to finish off the match before the lunch break. They got off to a dream start with boundaries flying all over the park. They made the pitch look totally different from the first innings and exhibited a flippant show to steal the match home. The former got out eventually but the new batsman K. U. D. V. Padmalal took the responsibility and guided the team towards the target. UVA was put under pressure by some excellent shot making and neat timing by the couple on the crease. UVA couldn’t hold onto half-the-chances which came their way and fell miserably in the tactical aspects. On the other hand, T. M. De. S. Rajaratne completed his well-deserved 50.
The score was 112/1 at the nominal lunch break time. Umpires and teams decided to play off the match as it was all over so early in the day for UVA. The winning runs were eventually hit in the 20 th over with 9 wickets in hand and UOC booked a place in the semifinal with tons of confidence in the camp eyeing the ultimate silverware. Talking to MoraSpirit, the UOC captain had this to say: “We are very happy with the win. We set our target very high so we wanted to win it. Our bowlers have done a pretty decent job. I’m happy with myself for the four wickets I got. Our spinners are fresh and adopting to the new power play rules. Our batsmen took the advantage of field restrictions. Our fielding needs to improve but we are doing well so far. We are looking forward to the semifinal.”
En route to final, UOC will face the winners of the third quarterfinal which is to be played on the 21st between WAY and KEL in the grounds of UOM. MoraSpirit takes pleasure in congratulating UOC for their success today and wishing them “good luck” in the semifinal.
By R. Arunothayan
(MoraSpirit)
No comments:
Post a Comment