Chathura powers Lions to the semis

Sport360 staff 11:42 15/01/2014
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  • On target: UBL’s Ahmed Raza

    Chathura Deshapriya followed up his unbeaten century last week with another superb 86 not out for the Colombo Lions, who are now in the semi-finals of the UAE Exchange Centre Twenty20 Cup.

    Set a challenging 223 by Abu Dhabi Warriors, the Lions knocked off the winning runs for the loss of six wickets with 10 balls to spare at the Abu Dhabi Cricket Council grounds.

    Openers Indika Sampath (35 off 15 balls) and Sanjeeva Dias (52 off 18) set the platform for the Lions with a swashbuckling start.

    Sampath hammered three sixes and an equal number of fours and Dias hit three sixes and eight fours as they put on 90 in 30 balls.

    Deshapriya, who scored 100 not out against the MCC-Zayed Cricket Academy in the previous game, then saw his team through with a 40-ball knock that was highlighted by eight sixes and a couple of fours.

    They meet Adnoc Distribution, who edged out Emistate by two wickets with three deliveries to spare.

    Mohammed Naveed (32 not out) and Ali Sabri (11 not out) added 21 valuable runs for the ninth wicket to take them over the line after Imran Zia had stroked a top-score of 54, which was studded with 10 fours.

    Meanwhile, Zaheer Maqsood and Ahmed Raza, the UAE international, took three wickets apiece for United Bank Limited (UBL) to clinch a 29-run win over Thrifty Car Rental while Takreer sent the sponsor’s team packing out in the other games.

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