Mathews, Wellalage see Colts home in rain-shortened game

ANGELO Mathews, in his first match in white-ball cricket after announcing his retirement from Test cricket at the end of the first Test against Bangladesh at Galle next month, hit an unbeaten 30 off 20 balls (3 fours, 1 six) to guide Colts to a comfortable seven-wicket win against Havelock Park rivals BRC in a rain-shortened Major Club T20 match played at the SSC grounds yesterday.

- BY SA'ADI THAWFEEQ

Mathews, who is available for selection in the white-ball format, and Dunith Wellalage (18*) added 38* for the fourth wicket to see Colts go past BRC's score of 73 in a 15-over game. Spinner Akila Dananjaya (3/18) and seamers Dilshan Madushanka (2/11) and Dhananjaya Lakshan (2/10) were all over the BRC batting after they were invited to bat first.

It was Colts' second win in the tournament in as many games as they kept pace with Group B leaders Bloomfield, who maintained their position at the top by beating Chilaw Marians CC by seven wickets in a game reduced to 8 overs a side at the CCC grounds.

Sri Lanka's Hong Kong Sixes winning Captain Lahiru Madushanka made it virtually a no-contest with a blistering knock of 54* off 21 balls (5 fours, 4 sixes) as Bloomfield chased down Chilaw Marians CC's score of 66-4 to win with 11 balls to spare. Madushanka came to the wicket with Bloomfield having lost both openers for ducks to the off-breaks of Sammu Ashan, and a third at 18 in the third over. He simply took the game away from Chilaw Marians CC with his powerful onslaught of their bowling. Skipper Nipun Karunanayake's contribution in an unbroken stand of 54 for the fourth wicket was just eight, which showed the dominance Madushanka had over the bowlers.