Hyderabad, Sep 21: Ruhunu Eleven’s hopes of progressing to the Nokia CLT20 2011 stay alive after they beat the Leicestershire Foxes in a close contest at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium here today. After posting a competitive 160 for six batting first, the Sri Lankan team restricted their opponents to 156 for eight in a topsy-turvy run-chase.

The Sri Lankan club, who were asked to bat, didn’t get off to a great start, losing both their openers quickly. However, a 30-run partnership between Dinesh Chandimal and Kushal Perera put the innings back on track. Though Leicestershire kept picking wickets at regular intervals, the well-set Chanidmal batted through to the end and ensured his team had a competitive total on the board. He made 62 and hit six boundaries and two sixes in his 51-ball knock. Shalik Karunanayake gave the innings a much-needed impetus at the end when he scored a quick-fire 28 (15 balls, 2 fours, 2 sixes).

Harry Gurney was the most successful bowler for Leicestershire, though he conceded 33 runs in his four overs. Abdul Razzaq, who picked up his 100th wicket in Twenty20 cricket, and Claude Henderson were the other wicket-takers for the English club.

Set to chase 161, Leicestershire were off to a rollicking start, scoring 31 in 2.2 overs before losing Joshua Cobb to the following delivery. Abdul Razzaq, who opened the innings at the other end, along with Andrew McDonald, put together 42 runs to take their team closer to the target.

However, McDonald’s dismissal in the eighth over gave Ruhunu the opening they so desperately needed. They took the opportunity, pegged the scoring-rate back and kept the pressure on Leicestershire by picking up wickets regularly.

Leicestershire looked good to overhaul the target with plenty of time to spare when Razzaq perished in the 15th over. It was left to a whole new set of batsmen to force the issue in the final overs; the lower-order batsmen, however, just didn’t have the ammunition to do the job. Leicestershire eventually finished their innings at 156 for eight, five runs short of the target.

Janaka Gunaratne and off-spinner Asanka Silva were the pick of the Ruhunu Eleven bowlers with three wickets each.

Brief Scores: Ruhunu Eleven 160/6 (Dinesh Chandimal 62, Shalika Karunanayake 28, Harry Gurney 3-33) beat Leicestershire Foxes 156/8 (Abdul Razzaq 68, Andrew McDonald 24, Janaka Gunaratne 3-27, Asanka Silva 3-29)

Man-of-the-Match:Dinesh Chandimal, for his unbeaten 62 off 51 balls (6 fours, 2 sixes)