SLPL: Kamran shines with the bat again

Kamran, who has now made 180 runs in three SLPL matches, hit a splendid 46-ball 65 PHOTO: AFP

Kamran Akmal shone with the bat again as Wayamba United registered a convincing 67-run win over Basnahira Cricket Dundee in the Sri Lankan Premier League (SLPL) yesterday — their third successive win in the competition.

Kamran, who has now made 180 runs in three SLPL matches, hit a splendid 46-ball 65 as Wayamba posted a competitive 165 for nine in their allotted quota before their bowlers bundled out Basnahira for a paltry 98 in the 20th over.

The Pakistan wicket-keeper put on 47 for the opening wicket with Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal before adding 41 with Mohammad Hafeez. He was eventually dismissed in the 17th over with the team’s total at 134. In search of quick runs, Wayamba lost wickets at regular intervals but still managed a reasonable total.

In reply, Basnahira lost the wicket of explosive opener Tillakaratne Dilshan at 29 with Azhar Mahmood claiming the former Sri Lanka captain’s scalp. None of the other batsmen offered any resistsnce with Rilee Rossouw making the highest individual score of 20.

Kaushalya Weeraratne claimed three for 11, while Akila Dananjaya finished with two for 15. The loss was Basnahira’s third in four SLPL games.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 20^th, 2012.