Inter-Provincial Cricket Final

Sri Lanka One-day International cap Angelo Mathews, 21, made a big stride in his bid to claim higher accolades in the longer version of the game when he hammered 152, his third ton of the tournament, to hand in the fancied Basnahira North the edge in the final of this season’s Inter-Provincial Cricket Tournament which continued in its 2nd day on Friday at R. Premadasa Int’l Stadium, Colombo.

The timely knock, came in 275 balls, helped his team stave off from a possible collapse as they were five down for 96 at one stage chasing the opponent’s 1st innings total of 223, and also set up himself as the best batsman of this key 1st class cricket tourney raising his individual tally up to an imposing 746 in five matches (average of 93.25), 169 runs more than the current second place holder, Ruhuna’s Upul Tharanga, who made 577 in four (82.42).

Mathews’ 270, scored against Kandurata in February, stands the highest score of the event which saw him making merry with fine form with the bat recording three tons and two fifties.

Mathews combined with No.7 bat Muthumudalige Pushpakumara in their rescue effort to put up 185 for the sixth wicket as the latter recorded his second ton of the tourney facing 146 deliveries.

Basnahira earned, through Mathews and Pushpakumara, a vital 166-run 1st innings lead.

Scores:

Wayamba 223 all out and 39 for no loss.

Basnahira North (o/n 93-4) 389 all out in 104.2 overs (Ian Daniel 31, A. Mathews 152, M. Pushpakumara 103; Isuru Udana 2-54, Jehan Mubarak 2-65, Tissara Perera 2-68, Rangana Herath 2-83).