Sri Lanka A hit a champagne high crowning themselves champions of the UAE A-Team ODI Tri Series triumphing Ireland by 5 wickets in finishing off the final on a score of 203 for 5 in 34.3 overs having bowled out their opponents for at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium yesterday.
But victory did not come on a platter for the Sri Lankans who were driven on the back foot of 5 for 43 after 9.1 overs when Irish eyes did smile sensing a trophy glitter. But the sixth wicket pair of Milan Rathnayake and Pavan Rathnayake changed the complexion of the game in grinding down a threatening Irish attack with identical undefeated scores of 77 striking an equal number of 9 boundaries and 2 sixes o posting a rollicking 160 partnership to a memorably thrilling finish. Milan capped an all-round Player of the Final performance with his 3 for 24 upswing to that final thrust with the bat.
Ireland’s thrust was spearheaded by opening bowlers Thomas Mayes with a 3 wicket grab for just 8 runs and Liam McCarthy 2 to 50.
The final turned out to be a heroic day for the Rathnayake threesome with Tharindu picking up a cornerstone 4 for 33 as Ireland was dismissed for 200 200 in 47.3 overs after being put into bat.
Ireland’s Morgan Topping scored a defiant 73 off 101 balls with 7 boundaries and a six with the next best contribution by lower order Thomas Mayes who made 36.
CHIEF SCORES:
Ireland 200 (47.3 Overs)
Morgan Topping 73, Thomas Mayes 36, Cade Carmichael 21, Stephen Doheny 19, Ross Adair 16, harindu Rathnayake 4/33, Milan Rathnayake 3/24, Dushan Hemantha 2/51, Mohamed Shiraz 1/20
Sri Lanka A 203/5 (34.3 Overs)
Pavan Rathnayake n.o. 77, Milan Rathnayake n.o. 77, Lahiru Udara 16, Thomas Mayes 3/8, Liam McCarthy 2/50