Sri Lanka Masters riding a quickfire 51-ball century from Upul Tharanga and an equally aggressive half century from Lahiru Thirimanne defeated Australia Masters by three wickets at the BCA Stadium in Vadodara on Friday.
Chasing 218, the early loss of Kumar Sangakkara could have been a setback for Sri Lanka Masters, but Tharanga (102 off 54 balls) and Thirimanne (53 off 34 balls) had other plans. The left-handed duo stitched together a sublime 153-run second-wicket stand to set the tone.
Tharanga, who got off to a cautious start, took a special liking for Daniel Christian, depositing the medium pacer for a couple of sixes and a four to bring up a 31-ball fifty.
After receiving a reprieve on 83, Tharanga launched an all-out assault, taking the Australia Masters bowlers to task. Thirimanne, who till then, was happy to rotate strike, also joined his partner and got to his fifty with a boundary off Nathan Coulter-Nile.
By the time, the Sri Lankan duo threatened to wrap things up in style, Ben Laughlin got the Australia Masters back into the game by ending the partnership with the wicket of Thirimanne, a couple of balls before Tharanga got to his hundred with a single.
Laughlin struck twice in his final over with the wickets of Tharanga and Chinthaka Jayasinghe. In between, Christian accounted for Asela Gunaratne to level things for the Australians.
With the equation down to 35 from the final three overs, Isuru Udana (15 off 6) slammed a couple of sixes off Christian, before the bowler had the last laugh. Needing 16 off 12 balls, Jeevan Mendis and Seekkuge Prasanna almost got the job done before Chaturanga de Silva slammed the winning runs with a six.
Earlier, in the first innings, Sri Lanka Masters looked to put early pressure on the Australians. Watson and Shaun Marsh, started with caution, assessing the conditions. But it wasn’t long before Watson, turned back the clock — dispatching Udana for three consecutive boundaries.
Just when it seemed like Australia was ready to shift gears, Dhammika Prasad struck, removing Watson. Hwever, the joy was short-lived for the Islanders as Marsh and wicketkeeper Ben Dunk slammed half centuries to forge together an 102-run partnership for the second wicket. Asela Gunaratne ended the alliance with the wicket of Dunk, who finished with a 29-ball 56.
Marsh, however, carried on, and held one end firm, as he put on a 54-run partnership with Daniel Christian. The left-hander was finally removed by Udana on 77 off 49 balls.
Towards the end, Nathan Reardon (11 not out off 9 balls) and Ben Cutting (19 not out off 7 balls) propelled the Australia Masters to 217/4.
Brief Scores:
Australia Masters 217/4 (Shaun Marsh 77, Ben Dunk 56, Daniel Christian 34; Asela Gunaratne 1/37) lost to Sri Lanka Masters 222/7 (Upul Tharanga 102, Lahiru Thirimanne 53; Ben Laughlin 3/35) by 3 wickets
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