Vajira’s ton guides Lanka Cavaliers to clinch Coconut Miracle Trophy 

M.H.Yakeem 

A sparkling knock by Vajira Wijegunawardena stroking a star-studded 122 runs not out in 92 balls including 8 fours and 7 sixes helped Lanka Cavaliers beat Legends of Richmond by a comfortable 103 runs in a Masters  30 overs league Cricket encounter, played for the Coconut Miracle Trophy at the Bloomfield ground, Reid Avenue, Colombo- 07 on Saturday. 

Lanka Cavaliers led by Nalliah Devarajan taking first lease of the wicket,  openers Punyakantha Abeygunasekera and Vajira Wijegunawardena were associated in a grand opening stand of 40 runs, with the dismissal of Punyakantha Abeygunasekera and the second wicket falling at 72 runs, Captain Nalliah Devarajan and Vajira Wijegunawardena, the pair together steadied the innings with a valuable 64 runs partnership. With the dismissal of Nalliah Devarajan at 136 runs and 4 more wickets falling at regular intervals, Lanka Cavaliers at this stage were 7 wickets down for 184 runs. Vajira Wijegunawardena, the opening batter at the crease along with Thusitha Karunaratne, the pair took them to a commanding position at the end of the 30th over. Prasanna Ramanayake, Asoka Sirimanne, and Thushan Jayawardena capturing 2 wickets apiece and Nishantha Mendis capturing a wicket were the pick of the bowlers for Legends of Richmond. 

Legends of Richmond led by Thushan Jayawardena in reply,  lost an early wicket at 2 runs on board. Wickets falling at regular intervals,  Legends of Richmond at one stage were reeling at 7 wickets down for 53 runs with Dilshan Amarasinghe and Prasanna Ramanayake entering double figures. Useful contributions from batters P.A. Gunawardena on 19 not out and Upul Yatawara on 10 not out, Legends of Richmond could only manage to reach 93 runs at their 30th over. A fine spell by Ravi Subasinghe, capturing 3 early vital wickets and well supported by Renuka Nonis, Krishan Dharmasena, and Niranjan Dabare capturing a wicket apiece guided Lanka Cavaliers to clinch the Coconut Miracle Trophy by a comfortable 103 runs. 

Scores

Lanka Cavaliers   – 193/7  in 30 overs

Punyakantha Abeygunasekera 12, Nalliah Devarajan 17, Vajira Wijegunawardena 122 not out, Prasanna Ramanayake 2/22, Asoka Sirimanne 2/39, Thushan Jayawardena 2/25, Nishantha Mendis 1/31

Legends of Richmond   –  90/7 in 30 overs

Dilshan Amarasinghe 13, Prasanna Ramanayake 13, P.A. Gunawardena 19 not out, Upul Yatawara 10 not out, Ravi Subasinghe 3/13, Renuka Nonis 1/21, Niranjan Dabare 1/9, Krishan Dharmasena 1/15

Caption 

Captain of the Lanka Cavaliers Cricket team, Nalliah Devarajan received the Coconut Miracle Trophy from the Founder and CEO of Coconut Miracle ( Pvt ) Ltd., Shanthini Ahangama, and Deepal Ahangama.