Sri Lanka excel at Deaf ICC T-20 World cup cricket tournament

By Dhammika Ratnaweera

 Sri Lankan Deaf cricket team performed well during the ICC T-20 World Cup cricket tournament and reach to the super three stage in this tournament which now in progress in India. The team captain by Gimadu Malkam recorded victories over Australia, Nepal and India and lost to South Africa in the league round to enter the super three stage . Sri Lanka who came to top of the league points table already recorded one win against South Africa in the super three stage  hope to enter the final in this ICC T-20 Deaf cricket tournament. Skipper Malkam showed all round abilities  to get his team forward to this tournament .

Skipper Gimadu Malkam scored fine knock of 61 and Asanka Manjula with a fine figures of 5 for 22 guided Sri Lanka Deaf cricket team to record first win over Australia in their first  cricket fixture played  at  Teri Gram cricket grounds in Gurgaon, India on last Sunday . Sri Lanka defeated Australia by 65 runs with leading all three departments.   This match gave Sri Lankans to make good confidence said Manager of the Sri Lanka team Indrani Ariyaratna.

     Sri Lanka won the toss and elected to bat first  and made a formidable  total of 166 all out in 19.2 overs  while Australia had to manage with 101 all out in 15.2 overs with Asanka Manjula five for 22 and Udaya Lakmal 2 for 6 did most of the damage with a ball . Team Manager Indrani Ariyaratna said the first match victory is very important to the side to make good morale to go forward . Skipper Gimadu Malkam leading the way with superb batting display and he scored 61 in 42 balls with nine fours and six with  a strike rate of  145.24. His fifty came on just 34 balls while Shanaka Walgama 37 in 28 balls with five fours also made useful contribution to build up the respectable  total  .Sri Lanankan Asanka Manjula was named man of the match .

   Sri Lanka  reached their  100 runs in 11. 1 overs while their 150 runs  on  16.3 overs . Australian David Melling  top scored 27 with 12 balls with 6 fours but others were unable to make useful knocks with Sri Lankan bowlers came back strongly .

However Sri Lanka lost to South Africa by 13 runs in their league round match which was the ony loosing game for Sri Lanka. South Africans scored 163 for 8 wickets in 20 overs while Sri Lankan were managed to get 150 for 9 in 19.5 overs but two batsman were injured and unable to bat this game . This was effected for the Sri Lankans innings said Manager Indrani Ariyaratna. Rajitha Asanka top scored 39 for loosing Sri Lanka side while skipper Gimadu Malkom (22) and Sumudu Lanka (20) made useful contributions for Sri Lanka side. However  opener Shanaka Walgama( 17) and number three bat  D.J Tharanga (12) were back to the pavilion with unfortunetly run out and that was the fault  of the SrI Lanka innings added Manager Ariyaratna.

 The third game against Nepal made one sided affair with Sri Lanka  recorded massive 179 runs victory . Sri Lankans made 226 for 3 wickets in 20m overs which was the highest team total  so far this tournament while Nepalians were bowled out for 47 in 15.4 overs with Sri Lankan bolwers dominated the game. Skipper Gimadu Malkam 85 in just 48 balls with 10 fours and 3 sixes while Shanaka Walgama scored 55 in 43 balls with 5 fours and a six added superb 117 runs partnership in just 11.3 overs to build up the Sri Lanka innings while Tharaka Sampath Jayasinghe 3 for 10 and Asanka Manajula 3 for 11 did most of the damage to restrict Nepalians for 47 runs. Skipper Malkam and Udaya Lakmal also took two wickets apiece. Nepal skipper Ribesh Shrestha was the only batsman scored double figures 15 runs for the loosing side.

  Meanwhile Sri Lanka recorded third win over favourite India side to ended top of the points table after the league round . Sri Lanka won by 51 runs and this win was more important for Sri Lanka to finish top team said Manager Indrani Ariyaratna. Sri Lankan made 155 for 6 in 20 overs while Indians werebowled out for 110 in 19.5 overs . Skipper Gimadu Malkam 29 , D.J Tharanga 25, Tharaka Sampath Jayasinghw 22 not our were the chief scores for Sri Lanka side while Indian Virendra Singh took 2 for 22 . Tharaka Sampath Jayasinghe 3 for 17 and Asanka Manjula 3 for 18 did most of the damage to struggle Indian side.

 After the league round Sri Lanka with three wins came on top of the points table while India came to the second place and South Africa with two wins finshed with third place . These three teams Sri Lanka , India and South Africa already entered the supper three round and two top teams of the super three round enter for the final.

However Sri Lanka once again made good start  in the super  three round with winning first game against South Africa by three wickets , This was  good come back for Sri Lanka after loosing to South Africa by 13 runs in the league round. South Africa made 155 for 8 wickets in 20 overs while Sri Lanka reach their target in 19. 2 overs with three wickets in hand.  Opeber Reinhardt Limbach 46 in 33 balls and Skipper   Colin Venter 36 in 22 balls were chief scores for South Africa side while Skipper Gimadu Malkam 3 for 22 did moast of the damage while Malkam 42 in 27 balls with 5 fours and two sixes and Alanrose Kalep 44 in 31 balls made chief scores for Sri Lanka side to reach the target .  Rajitha Asanka 28  and Tharaka Sampath Jayasinghe 20 not out made useful knocks for Sri Lanka side,

 Manager Indrani Ariyaratna said Sri Lanka have to play India match which is scheduled to play yesterday (29) to enter the finals. Each team has to play two matches each other in the super three round. Sri Lanka already recorded one win and their ambition is to reach the final and all team members are good team spirit said Indrani Ariyaratna. Actiually we came this tour lack of facilities . Sri Lanka Cricket , Sports Ministery and HNB Assurance made very good support . But we have not Physiotherapist with the team but we talk to India and get Physiotherapist from them , I think with this type of Deaf cricket team Physiotherapist is more important said Manager Ariyaratna. Meanwhile Sri Lankan umpire Sena Nandiweera also got chance to officiate this tournament last minute . Earlier Rohitha Kottahachchi was named for this tournament but his illness paved to way to join Nandiweera the experienced Umpire for this tour .

 Deaf ICC  T-20 World cup points table ( League Stage)