183/3 (17.2)
CR : 10.56
180/6 (20.0)
CR : 9.00
Sri Lanka Masters won by 7 wickets 🏆
Player of the Match
Asela Gunaratne
59(33)
17.2
4
M Ntini to A Gunaratne
Asela Gunaratne finishes things off in style. Sri Lanka Masters win by 7 wickets remaining and 16 balls to spare. This has been a remarkable partnership between Asela Gunaratne and Chinthaka Jayasinghe.
Coming to the delivery, it was pitched full and wide outside off, Gunaratne throws his hands at it and caresses his drive past covers for a four.
Coming to the delivery, it was pitched full and wide outside off, Gunaratne throws his hands at it and caresses his drive past covers for a four.
Over 18
Sri Lanka Masters 183/3
Asela Gunaratne59(33)
Chinthaka Jayasinghe51(25)
Makhaya Ntini0-36(3.2)
SLM won by 7 wickets
10:48 PM IST & Local Time: An absolute cruise in the end as it turns out for Sri Lanka Masters who get the job done with 16 balls to spare and 7 wickets in hand. They fell just short against India Masters chasing 222 but have made sure that they finish the task in hand and they have done so convincingly and have leaped up to the second place in the points table.
An unbeaten 114-run stand in just 57 balls between Gunaratne (59* off 33) and Jayasinghe (51* off 25) who played some delightful strokes in their partnership has taken Sri Lanka from a precarious situation at a point when they were 69/3 to chasing down 181 pretty comfortably. Sri Lanka were indeed under pressure after a good start from Tharanga and Sangakkara put up 50 runs in the powerplay but then both of them were castled by the off-spinner Tshabalala. A direct-hit from the substitute fielder Behardien saw Thirimanne being run-out in the 12th over.
But that was that as far as South Africa's joy was concerned. The pair of Gunaratne and Jayasinghe demolished their bowling attack which was largely troubled by dew and missed their execution looking really rusty in the back half. The Sri Lankan pair took full toll and ultimately galloped home.
Earlier in the day, South Africa Masters got to 180 on the back of a 53-ball 76 from Hashim Amla. While a few of their batters got starts, Amla was the only one to make it big and play a substantial innings apart from a 13-ball cameo of 28 runs from Dane Vilas towards the end. Sangakkara wanted his team to keep South Africa below 190 and his bowlers including Chaturanga and Udana who got 2 wickets each did exactly that.
An unbeaten 114-run stand in just 57 balls between Gunaratne (59* off 33) and Jayasinghe (51* off 25) who played some delightful strokes in their partnership has taken Sri Lanka from a precarious situation at a point when they were 69/3 to chasing down 181 pretty comfortably. Sri Lanka were indeed under pressure after a good start from Tharanga and Sangakkara put up 50 runs in the powerplay but then both of them were castled by the off-spinner Tshabalala. A direct-hit from the substitute fielder Behardien saw Thirimanne being run-out in the 12th over.
But that was that as far as South Africa's joy was concerned. The pair of Gunaratne and Jayasinghe demolished their bowling attack which was largely troubled by dew and missed their execution looking really rusty in the back half. The Sri Lankan pair took full toll and ultimately galloped home.
Earlier in the day, South Africa Masters got to 180 on the back of a 53-ball 76 from Hashim Amla. While a few of their batters got starts, Amla was the only one to make it big and play a substantial innings apart from a 13-ball cameo of 28 runs from Dane Vilas towards the end. Sangakkara wanted his team to keep South Africa below 190 and his bowlers including Chaturanga and Udana who got 2 wickets each did exactly that.
Jacques Kallis (South Africa Masters Captain) : "I think it was quite tough for the batting. I think credit goes to the Sri Lankan side to restrict us below 200. I think we were right in the game till the 11th over but they played really well. The dew came into the scheme of things as well.
Let's see how that holds out. (on whether he would come to bowl himself). Yeah, we have a day off."
Let's see how that holds out. (on whether he would come to bowl himself). Yeah, we have a day off."
Time for the post-match presentations.
Most Sixes of the Match - Hashim Amla
Player of the Match - Asela Gunaratne
Kumar Sangakkara( Sri Lanka Masters Captain): "Yeah, I think on this ground if you keep a side 200 or below, then you can go ahead and chase it. First game, Chinthaka played really well. Asela has some good experience as well and they both played really well.
I think over the last 14 years, power has improved, skill has improved and it has been brilliant for the players and the fans. I started to go at the gym for around 3 hours. I had a few indoor sessions."
I think over the last 14 years, power has improved, skill has improved and it has been brilliant for the players and the fans. I started to go at the gym for around 3 hours. I had a few indoor sessions."
That is all from the action here then with Sri Lanka Masters registering a convincing win against South Africa Masters. The Navi Mumbai leg of the tournament comes to and end tomorrow with West Indies Masters taking on England Masters before the competition moves to Vadodara the day after. For now, this is Sourabh Agrawal taking your leave on behalf of my co-commentators Aditya Agrawal, Arjun and scorer Bishal Mandal. Good night!