By Srian Obeyesekere

Sri Lanka A emerged champions of the ODI UAE A-Team Tri Series defeating Ireland A by 5 wickets in reaching 203 for 5 off 34.3 overs having bowled out their opponents for 200 in 47.3 overs with Milan Rathnayake starring in a Player of the Match all-round performance following up his 3 for 24 take with an unbeaten 77 off 83 balls blazing 9 boundaries and 2 over the top at Abu Dhabi’s Zayed Cricket Stadium yesterday.

The final ultimately turned out to be an all-Rathnyake show with Milan joining Pavan 77 off 76 with 9 boundaries and 2 over the top in an unfinished 160-run sixth wicket bonding to lifting Sri Lanka from the danger zone of 5 for 43 after 9.1 overs when the Irish had their tails up on an ominous note following a 3-wicket strike by Thomas Mayes and 2 by Liam McCarthy, Ireland’s frontline bowlers as Sri Lanka trailed by 157 runs in that decimation.

The forceful partnership between the two Rathnayake’s put paid to Ireland’s trophy hopes. 

In effect, the day belonged to the Rathnayake trio with Tharindu Rathnayake emerging the chief wrecker with a 4 for 33 haul in sharing 7 Irish wickets between Milan while Dushan Hemantha took 2 for 51 after Ireland had been put into bat.

Morgan Topping top scored for Ireland with 73 off 101 balls with 7 boundareis and a six.

CHIEF SCORES:

Ireland 200 (47.3 Overs) 

(Morgan Topping 73, Thomas Mayes 36, Cade Carmichael 21, Stephen Doheny 19, Ross Adair 16, harindu Rathnayake 4/33, Milan Rathnayake 3/24, Dushan Hemantha 2/51, Mohamed Shiraz 1/20)

Sri Lanka A 203/5 (34.3 Overs)

(Pavan Rathnayake n.o. 77, Milan Rathnayake n.o. 77, Lahiru Udara 16, Thomas Mayes 3/8, Liam McCarthy 2/50)