Ganegama devastates Access

Sri Lanka's promising young fast bowler Akalanka Ganegama was in devastating form as he guided defending champs Hatton National Bank to a comfortable 44-run win over Access Group in a key Mercantile `A' division cricket match played at the Moors SC grounds on Saturday.

Ganegama (20) knocked the fight out of the Access batting when he creamed off their top four batsmen for five runs, chasing an HNB total of 221 for eight off 50 overs. Ganegama's victims included national players Aravinda de Silva (2) and Indika de Saram (0) as he finished with final figures of four for 29 off seven overs as Access were dismissed for 177 in the 38th over.

Jeevantha Kulatunga in a late flourish slammed 41 off 42 balls inclusive of a four and three sixes to see Access to a respectable total.

HNB sent into bat by Access, built their total around another national cricketer Tillekeratne Dilshan's knock of 56 off 70 balls (6 fours).

Sri Lanka players played prominent roles in guiding the fortunes of their respective companies to victory.

At the Bloomfield grounds, Chaminda Vaas came up with a cameo all-round performance to see Seylan Bank to a convincing ten-wicket win over Singer.

Vaas ran through the batting taking three for 13 as Singer were bundled out for 101 and then opening the batting, hit a sparkling unbeaten 72 off just 46 balls to see them home in the 15th over. Left-hander Vaas smashed two sixes and 11 fours in a fine display of power hitting.

Sri Lanka vice-captain Marvan Atapattu and middle-order batsman Kumar Sangakkara hit fifties and shared a century partnership for Sampath Bank in their crushing 162-run win over East West at the NCC grounds.

Sampath Bank rattled up the highest total of the day scoring 254 for 8 in 50 overs. Sangakkara made 51 off 79 balls (2 fours) and Atapattu, a stroke-filled 88 off 98 balls with one six and six fours as they shared a fourth wicket partnership of 112 off 22 overs.

East West offered hardly any opposition being shot out for 92 in 31 overs with fast-medium bowler Aruna Bandaranayake capturing four wickets for 33.

In the other match of the day, Janashakthi pulled off an 83-run win over John Keells at the Colts grounds. In reply to Janashakthi's total of 182, John Keells could reply with only 99 with H.G.D. Nanayakkara taking 4 for 29.