The action in the first International Masters League 2025 moved to Vadodara after an exciting start in Navi Mumbai. Here, a sizable crowd watched as Sri Lanka Masters defeated Australia Masters by three wickets on Friday thanks to a spectacular 51-ball century from Upul Tharanga and an equally aggressive half-century from Lahiru Thirimanne.
The early defeat of Kumar Sangakkara in the chase for 218 might have been a blow to the Sri Lanka Masters, but Tharanga (102 off 54 balls) and Thirimanne (53 off 34 balls) had other ideas. The tone was set by the left-handed pair’s magnificent 153-run second-wicket stand, which was reminiscent of their best years in terms of their fluid strokeplay. Tharanga, who had a slow start, showed particular affection for Daniel Christian, hitting the medium pacer for a couple of sixes and a four to reach a fifty off thirty-one balls.
Then, after being given a reprieve on 83, Upul Tharanga unleashed a full-scale attack that challenged the bowlers at the Australia Masters.
Up until that point, Thirimanne had been content to switch up his strike, but he altered tactics, bringing back memories of Sri Lanka’s heyday of bold, unrestrained play. Thirimanne reached his fifty with a boundary off Nathan Coulter-Nile during the process.
Ben Laughlin ended the stand with the wicket of Thirimanne, a couple of balls before Tharanga reached his hundred with a single, bringing the Australia Masters back into the match just as the Sri Lankan pair was about to finish in spectacular fashion. Laughlin further damaged the Sri Lanka Masters by taking Tharanga and Chinthaka Jayasinghe out in his penultimate over. Christian levelled the playing field for the Australians by accounting for Asela Gunaratne in between.
Before the bowler had the last laugh, Isuru Udana (15 off 6) hit a couple of sixes off Christian with the equation down to 35 from the last three overs. Seekkuge Prasanna and Jeevan Mendis nearly completed the task with a six from Chaturanga de Silva, who needed 16 off 12 balls.
Time seemed to go back in time earlier when the legendary players of the golden generation gathered at the Baroda Cricket Association Stadium, where Kumar Sangakkara invited Shane Watson to bat.
The goal of the Sri Lanka Masters was to exert early pressure on the Australians. Shaun Marsh and Watson took their time getting started, evaluating the situation. But soon after, Watson, who has always been the aggressor, went back in time and sent Udana for three straight boundaries, bringing back memories of his best times in yellow. Dhammika Prasad struck just as Australia appeared to be prepared to change tactics, taking Watson out to serve as a reminder that, despite the passage of time, the spirit of competition never dies.
The Islanders’ happiness was short-lived, though, as Marsh and wicketkeeper Ben Dunk created a 102-run partnership for the second wicket by smashing half-centuries. Asela Gunaratne put an end to the struggle by dismissing Dunk, who scored 56 off 29 balls, including five boundaries and four enormous sixes.
However, Marsh maintained his flamboyance and kept one end strong as he coupled with newcomer Daniel Christian for a 54-run combination. Christian’s 13-ball 34 was interrupted by Chaturanga de Silva, who also blasted two enormous sixes and four hits to the fence.
After making a second appearance, Udana was dismissed by Marsh, who established the tone with a devastating 77 off 49 balls that included five overs and seven knocks to the fence. The Australia Masters reached a massive 217/4 in the closing stages thanks to Nathan Reardon (11 not out off 9 balls) and Ben Cutting (19 not out off 7 balls).
India
