Dilshan, Vithanage demolish Sussex

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Cricket365
May 19, 2014

Opening batsmen Tillakaratne Dilshan and Kithuruwan Vithanage spent a mere nine deliveries and one ball successfully chasing a testing 127-run target, as Sri Lanka vehemently trumped Sussex by 10 wickets in Sunday's one-sided tour match at the County Ground in Hove.

The result afforded the Sri Lankans, who earlier this month lost to Essex, plenty of confidence ahead of Tuesday's one-off Twenty20 International against England at The Oval in London – and the five-match ODI series thereafter.

Sussex's choice to bat first after captain Michael Yardy's triumph at the toss brought reasonable promise on the back of opener Matt Machan's quickfire half-century. The Scottish international struck four boundaries and half as many sixes en route to an entertaining 63 from 45 deliveries.

Machan, however, lacked support. An unfulfilled 14 from wicketkeeper-batsman Ben Brown was the next highest score, as the hosts struggled against an opposition attack led by pace ace Lasith Malinga and spinner Ajantha Mendis.

Vithanage and Dilshan's pursuit was prompt – and ruthless. The left-hander orchestrated four fours and a quintent of handsome sixes en route to an unbeaten 52 from just two dozen deliveries. The right-handed Dilshan, meanwhile, was brutal.

The former captain pulled, hooked, hacked and drove 16 fours, finishing with 73 not out from 31 balls. No bowler was spared, with seamers Steffan Piolet, Jon Lewis and Chris Liddle proving entirely expensive, as Sri Lankan success arrived with all of 65 deliveries to spare.