The inaugural Sri Lanka Premier League started today with full of anticipation here in R Premadasa Stadium Colombo, crowd gathered to witness the latest new experience in cricket. Tickets of the series labelled as cheap when comparing to other international cricket encounters and it helped fans to enter the premises to enjoy the glamorous event.
The whole setup and preparation gave new experience and the event filled with continues papare and music to adopt party atmosphere.
The first match was held between Lasith Malinga captaining Ruhuna Royals versus Angelo Mathews’s Negenahira Nagas.
Pakistan’s sensation Shahid Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Australian Daniel Harris and Aron Finch assist Ruhuna Royals as foreign players while Ahamad Sehzad, Ben Laugilin, T Birt and M Rahim added flavour to Nagenahira Nagas.
Ruhuna captain Lasith Malinga Won the toss and elected to bat first and failed to produce a great start. Ruhuna Scored 134 all out in their 20 overs and Lahiru Thirimanne scored highest score of 34.
Shaminda Eranga picked 3 wickets for 15 runs while Ajantha Medis 3 for 34 Runs Ajantha Mendis playing in international cricket after Sri Lanka’s South African tour early this year.
Royals 134 (20 overs) Thirimanna 34, Danial Harris 19, Afridi 18 ( Eranga 15/3, Ajantha Medis 34/3
Nagenahira Nagas’s inning started with an early break of Ahamed Sezad’s wicket for duck Tharanga Lakshitha took the wicket. Travis Birt(33*) and Jayasundara (25) kept score board ticking for Naga’s.
Rain Stopped play end of the 12th over and Naga’s were 5 runs ahead according to Duckworth Levis par score of 72/2.
The rain stopped the match and the game concluded Duckworth Levis method. Negenahira Naga's won the Sri Lanka Premier Leagues first match by 5 runs D/L method.
Nagenahira Nagas 77/2 (12 overs)
Jayasundara 25, Travis Birt 33* Malinga 1/4, Tharanga Lakshitha 1/20
