Wayamba beat Ruhuna in exciting Ball-out contest after Jayasuriya Blitz

Two cricketing stalwarts -- Mahela jayawardena and Sanath Jayasuriya having a chat during the downpour.

Wayamba vs Ruhuna (2nd Semi Final): Two captains Sanath Jayasuriya and Jehan Mubarak having a chat with the match referee GF Labrooy before the Ball-out contest

Sanath Jayasuriya added 26 runs in 18 balls with 3 sixes

In the second semi finals of the SLT Inter Provincial T/20 Tournament Lanka Bell Wayamba managed to qualify for the Finals by beating Hirdaramani Ruhuna in a ball out fight as the rain disturbed the game in first half of the match.

After electing to bat first Hirdaramani Ruhuna managed to score 88 runs in 15 overs for the loss of 7 wickets before the umpires stop the game due bad light.

Sanath Jayasuriya scored 26 runs with 3 outstanding sixes. SI de Saram also added 22 runs but faced an unfortunate run out. In bowling I Udana (2/7) and KS Lokuarachchi (2/16) grabbed 2 wickets each.

The real drama began after the umpires called for a ball out to decide the winner of the game as the bad weather condition continued. After few minutes of discussion both teams arrived in to the indoor practice nets for the final act of the day. Fading the hopes of Hirdaramani Ruhuna Lanka Bell Wayamba then managed to win the Ball out contest 3-2 to play against Lexmark Basnahira South in tomorrow's finals

Wayamba stun Ruhuna despite Jayasuriya's heroics

Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis returned to form with a three wicket burst as Wayamba Province scored an upset five wicket victory over the table leaders Ruhuna Province in their SLT Inter Provincial Twenty20 cricket tournament match worked off at the SSC grounds in Maitland Place yesterday.

Mendis returned outstanding bowling figures of three wickets for 14 from 3.4 overs as Ruhuna Province were skittled out for 127 in the penultimate over of the innings. However they were cruising along towards a big total at one stage after skipper Sanath Jayasuriya had provided a flying start to the innings.

The dashing left hand opening batsman plundered 45 runs from just 23 deliveries inclusive of two sixes and half a dozen of boundaries to set the pace for a match winning total. But with the introduction of spinner Ajantha Mendis the game took a dramatic turn with Ruhuna Province losing wickets at regular intervals.

Middle order batsman Indika de Saram who hit a career best 94 in the previous outing against Basnahira North made a desperate attempt to pull his side from total disaster but the rest of the batting simply collapsed against the spin duo of Ajantha Mendis and Kaushal Lokuarachchi.

Wayamba Province then reached their target from only 17.1 overs with opener Mahela Udawatte leading the way. The dynamic batsman smashed 51 runs from 36 deliveries with the aid of one six and seven boundaries.

Former Sri Lanka skipper Mahela Jayawardena also returned to form and added the finishing touches with a 28 ball 37 while stroking four boundaries. He also put on 65 runs for the third wicket with Udawatte.

Ruhuna: 127 in 18.4 overs (S. Jayasuriya 45, I. de Saram 22, A. Mendis 3 for 14, K. Lokuarachchi 2 for 16).

Wayamba: 130 for 5 in 17.1 overs (M. Udawatte 51, M. Jayawardena 37).