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The echoes of a golden era came alive under the floodlights of the DY Patil Stadium as Hashim Amla's graceful half-century was overshadowed by a couple of audacious fifties from Asela Gunaratne and Chinthaka Jayasinghe that helped Sri Lanka Masters register a seven-wicket victory against South Africa Masters in an electrifying league encounter of the inaugural International Masters League 2025, here on Wednesday.
Chasing a challenging 181, skipper Kumar Sangakkara and Upul Tharanga set the tone for Sri Lanka Masters with a brisk 50-run start before offspinner Thandi Tshabalala pulled South Africa back by dismissing both in a span of 12 deliveries. The run-out of Lahiru Thirimanne further jolted the Sri Lankans. Reduced to 69/3, the Sri Lanka Masters desperately needed some solidity, which was provided by the pair of Gunaratne (59 not out) and Jayasinghe (51 not out) with an undefeated 114-run stand that put the Islanders on course of a victory. The duo took full advantage of the dew, with both batters exploding after seeing through the initial phase, even as the bowlers found it challenging to control the flow of runs. As a result, Gunaratne raced to a 30-ball fifty while Jayasinghe motored along with a 23-ball half-century to propel the side over the line in mere 17.2 overs. Earlier, Amla rolled back the years with a sublime half-century, his elegant strokes painting a picture of those glory days, as he came up with the perfect mix of aggression and grace to notch up a 53-ball 76 to lay the foundation after Sri Lanka Masters skipper Kumar Sangakkara won the toss and opted to field. Opening alongside Morne van Wyk, Amla set the tone with a steady 41-run stand, before joining forces with the iconic Jacques Kallis to mount further misery on the Sri Lankan bowlers. Together, they rekindled memories of their prime, stroking the ball with effortless elegance and, in the process, pushing South Africa past the three-figure mark with a 65-run stand for the third wicket. Left-arm spinner Chaturanga de Silva brought an end to the flourishing partnership with the wicket of the South Africa Masters captain Kallis, who scored a 20-ball 24, before Isuru Udana ended Amla's resistance after the right-hander struck six boundaries and four massive sixes. The quick dismissals of Kallis and Amla left South Africa Masters in a spot of bother, with the scoreboard reading 138/4 by the 17th over, but a quick-fire 13-ball 28, laced with three boundaries and a six from Dane Vilas, and his 30-run partnership with Jacques Rudolph (9) helped them regain the momentum. (ANI)
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