SERENDIB CRICKET

Serendib got through to the semi finals in the inaugural KCL 20/20 knockout tournament sponsored by Nagoya CC.Serendib defeated Nagoya CC , the sponsors of the tournament by 6 runs at the picturesque Syzouka ground this weekend.Nagoya CC won the toss and asked Serendib to bat first since condition was good for the seam bowling.Nagoya bowlers justify their captain's decision by bowling stump-to-stump line and given extremely few power play runs.Serendib one drop batsman Dhanuka Samaranayake batted with real confidence and scored a 48 runs.Some support were given by Asankha Pallegedara in the beginning and Jayathura Samarakoon at the end.Serendib final score was 114 runs which is not that huge score but dependable one under the wet ground condition.

It is evident that target is not an easy one by any means since Nagoya CC loss their wickets at regular intervals.All the Serendib bowlers bowled tight line and length to restrict Nagoya batsman and eventually they needed run a ball chase from last 6 overs.In the last two overs they needed 13 runs to win the match but in 19th over bowled by spinner Asankha Pallegedara only gave 2 runs and took a wicket.Now Nagoya last pair at the crease and needed 11 runs but bowler was Dhanuka Samaranayake the fastest bowler of the Serendib side.First ball was smashed through the open mid wicket area and next one went through to the wicket keeper.Now Nagoya need 7 runs from 4 balls but in the very next ball Dhanuka got his wicket by hitting the stumps.This gave required victory to knocked the Nagoya CC out of KCL 20/20 competition and Serendib now has to face either alkaraam or Lalazar in the semi finals.