Published: Sep 13, 2014, 06:47 PM (IST)
Edited: Sep 14, 2014, 11:49 PM (IST)
By Abhijit Banare
Sep 13, 2014
Southern Express openers Kusal Perera (37) and Danushka Gunathilaka (39) propelled the team to 92 for five against Northern Knights in the first qualifier match of the Champions League T20 2014 (CLT20) at Raipur on Saturday. Rains and wet outfield led to the match being curtailed to 10-overs a side match.
Thanks to rain and the delayed pitch inspection meant that the it was going to eat up the overs as the second match is scheduled at the same venue. There was no doubt that the team winning the toss was going to bowl first in such a short match. The Knights’ skipper won the toss and chose the obvious.
The Knights were looking nervous in the field and it reflected in their sloppy fielding. They dropped as many as four catches inside the first five overs. Gunathilaka was dropped twice in the same over. And Kusal Perera was much more lucky being dropped thrice.
The Jayasuriya-like Perera capitalised scoring at a brisk rate. The wristy flicks and pull shots reminded of the former Lankan legend. A run-rate of 10 was always on the cards with such a batsman on crease and the Express managed to keep up to the momentum. In six overs they had raced up to 55 with five reprieves. The only bright spot till then was a tight over from leggie Ish Sodhi bowling five dot balls.
Eventually, someone from the Knights finally managed to hold on to a catch as Perera perished for a 20-ball 37. The Express lost the wrong batsman as the other opener Gunathilaka failed to get going consuming enough deliveries which could make a difference in the end result. Sodhi had a crucial role in restricting him. He gave only 10 in his stipulated two overs.
Justb when the Express looked like losing steam, Gunathilaka slogged Anton Devcich for asix in the cow corner region and followed it with a four. He finished the eighth over with another six. Trent Boult came back in the penultimate over of the match and bagged two wickets. He removed Gunathilaka and skipper Jehan Mubarak.
Southee came back to bowl the last over and conceded only six runs. Given the context of the game, 93 is a target the Knights would’ve accepted.
Brief scores:
Southern Express 92 for 5 in 10 overs (Kusal Perera 37, Danushka Gunathilaka 39; Trent Boult 2 for 12) vs Northern Knights.
Complete coverage of Champions League T20 2014 here
(Abhijit Banare is a reporter at CricketCountry. He is an avid quizzer and loves to analyse and dig out interesting facts which allows him to learn something new every day. Apart from cricket he also likes to keep a sharp eye on Indian politics, and can be followed on Twitter and blog)
