Sameer 4 Nation Tournament in Nairobi: Lanka records first win

Daily News

Sunday 29, September 1996


NAIROBI, Sept. 28: World champions Sri Lanka recovered from an embarrassing seven for two to destroy Kenya by seven wickets in the opening match of the Kenyan centenary four-nation tournament on Saturday.

Opener Romesh Kaluwitharana who stroked an even unbeaten 100 and Aravinda de Silva (55) shared a blistering 121-run third wicket partnership as Sri Lanka overhauled Kenya's 188 for nine with 19.2 overs to spare.

Kaluwitharana hit 10 fours and one six in reaching his first 50 in only 34 balls and although he slowed his century was reached in 89 balls with a further seven fours.

De Silva was equally harsh on the Kenyan bowlers, taking only 37 balls to reach his half century shortly before he was caught at long off by Eddie Odumbe off the bowling of his brother Maurice Odumbe.

Earlier it had taken a Kenyan record 89-run ninth wicket partnership between Hitesh Modi and Asif Karim to rescue Kenya from the depths of 93 for eight.

Sri Lankan off-spinner Muttiah Muralitheran threatened to ruin the hosts' day by destroying the middle order with four for 18 in his 10 overs.

But 25-year-old left hander Modi built on a patient start and eventually gathered a face saving half-century from 86 balls with six fours. Modi was left undefeated on 78 from 105 balls with a six and nine fours, many exquisitely straight driven.

His partner, 33-three year-old vice-captain and number 10 batsman Karim, initially contributed only three runs out of the first 40 but then burst into life by wildly slogging Kumar Dharmasena for six over mid-wicket.

The only other notable contribution for the Kenyans came from right hander Sandip Gupta who also started cautiously before blossoming to make 41 from 66 balls with four boundaries.


Source: The Daily News

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Date-stamped : 25 Feb1998 - 14:48