Muralitharan spins Tamil Union into the finals

Mutiah Muralitharan rarely plays domestic cricket in Sri Lanka but when he does he wrecks the same havoc that he creates in International cricket. Yet another magical spell of bowling, in which he picked up 4-22 in eight overs, destroyed a young and inexperienced CCC middle order today and ensured that his team progress to next weekends final.

Colombo Cricket Club who won the toss and elected to bat first in bright sunshine and on a pitch of slow pace was bowled out for a paltry 154 in just 43.2 overs. It was a poor performance by this young CCC side. Their woeful batting betraying a lack of experience and mental toughness. In reply Tamil Union scored the required runs with ease and reached their target with over 15 overs remaining.

When the CCC players look back at the match they will surely rue the manner in which they wasted a fine opening partnership of 57 between their captain Bradman Ediriweera (45) and Hunukumbara (12) with three run-outs and a succession of indecisive shots against the Tamil Union spinners.

A direct hit from the long on boundary by C. Fernando ended Lanka De Silva's (12) innings and precipitated a collapse in which 5 wickets were lost for just 25 runs. Their solid looking skipper, Ediriweera, who had played so well for his 45, then threw his wicket away when he was stumped of a wide. A. Pollonowita (40 and M. Vandort (2) quickly followed back into the dressing room when they were both run out.

The middle order then appeared to panic and as the run rate slowed the Tamil Union spinners made frequent and regular inroads. B. Perera (7) committed the cardinal sin of playing back to Murali and was bowled, as was H. Boteju (16) by Upul Chandana the Tamil Union Captain. Gallage (2) was easily caught at slip and Mudalige prodded tentatively forward to gift Chandana a catch at silly point.

The only resistance came from CCC's beefy number seven, H. Jayasuriya (26). His 26 off 41 deliveries briefly threatened a respectable total. Alas it wasn't to be as he was caught and bowled by Murali attempted another straight driven boundary.

If CCC were to have any chance they needed to make early breakthroughs. However in the short 25-minute session before lunch, Tamil Union cruised to 25 off five overs. Gallage who spent most of the Pakistan tour in the nets lacked rhythm and erred too often in his length. His partner though, H. Boteju, settled down into a smooth rhythm and was rewarded soon after the interval with the wickets of N. Shiroman (13) and R. Peiris (0).

With the innings wavering at 37-2 the CCC captain didn't put the batsmen under pressure and the two Indika's, Galagoda (39) and De Saram (26), compiled a match winning partnership 57. CCC's strange reluctance to ultilise the spinners ended in the 19th over and they were immediately rewarded as De Saram smashed the ball into the hands of extra cover. However it was too late for CCC and the remaining runs were a formality as Upul Chanadana led his side home with a typically enterprising 32 off just 29 deliveries.

One Day Premier League Limited Overs Championship, Semi Final Tamil Union v Colombo Cricket Club NCC Ground, Colombo 25th March 2000