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Ravi Bopara struck an unbeaten 59 off 50 balls. Photo SLC[/caption]
By Marlon Dale Ferreira
Kandy Warriors kept their hopes of getting into the final round of the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2021 alive when they pulled off a six-wicket victory over Dambulla Giants in the 18th match of the league at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Thursday (16).
Dambulla Giants, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, found it extremely difficult to get going after their prolific openers Phil Salt and Niroshan Dickwella, along with Janith Liyanage - who scored a remarkable fifty on debut in the previous game - were sent back to the pavilion inside four overs.
The Giants struggled further when they were 56/5 by the 11th over with Najibullah Zadran and Chamika Karunaratne also being dismissed.
In between, skipper Dasun Shanaka retired hurt.
The Giants were then propelled by Sachitha Jayatillake (34) and Ramesh Mendis (41) as they managed to get 130 runs on the board in their allocated 20 overs of batting. Binura Fernando and Hossain Al-Amin captured three wickets a piece.
The Kandy Warriors lost four wickets in getting to their target with Charith Asalanka (4) Minod Bhanuka (8), Kamindu Mendis (2), and Kennar Lewis (27) all being dismissed.
Ravi Bopara (59 not out) and skipper Angelo Perera (29 not out) put on an unbroken 60-run stand in 7.1 overs, with great determination and caution, to ensure they win the game and also, most importantly, keep their hopes alive of beating the Colombo Stars in their last game to take them through to the knockout stage, to be played in Hambantota.
Brief Scores:
Dambulla Giants 130/9 (20) (Ramesh Mendis 41, Sachitha Jayathilake 34; Binura Fernando 3/22, Al-Amin Hossain 3/32)
Kandy Warriors 135/4 (19.2) (Ravi Bopara 59 n.o., Angelo Perera 29; Imran Tahir 2/17, Ramesh Mendis 2/19)
Player of the Match: Ravi Bopara
Ravi Bopara struck an unbeaten 59 off 50 balls. Photo SLC[/caption]
By Marlon Dale Ferreira
Kandy Warriors kept their hopes of getting into the final round of the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2021 alive when they pulled off a six-wicket victory over Dambulla Giants in the 18th match of the league at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium on Thursday (16).
Dambulla Giants, after winning the toss and electing to bat first, found it extremely difficult to get going after their prolific openers Phil Salt and Niroshan Dickwella, along with Janith Liyanage - who scored a remarkable fifty on debut in the previous game - were sent back to the pavilion inside four overs.
The Giants struggled further when they were 56/5 by the 11th over with Najibullah Zadran and Chamika Karunaratne also being dismissed.
In between, skipper Dasun Shanaka retired hurt.
The Giants were then propelled by Sachitha Jayatillake (34) and Ramesh Mendis (41) as they managed to get 130 runs on the board in their allocated 20 overs of batting. Binura Fernando and Hossain Al-Amin captured three wickets a piece.
The Kandy Warriors lost four wickets in getting to their target with Charith Asalanka (4) Minod Bhanuka (8), Kamindu Mendis (2), and Kennar Lewis (27) all being dismissed.
Ravi Bopara (59 not out) and skipper Angelo Perera (29 not out) put on an unbroken 60-run stand in 7.1 overs, with great determination and caution, to ensure they win the game and also, most importantly, keep their hopes alive of beating the Colombo Stars in their last game to take them through to the knockout stage, to be played in Hambantota.
Brief Scores:
Dambulla Giants 130/9 (20) (Ramesh Mendis 41, Sachitha Jayathilake 34; Binura Fernando 3/22, Al-Amin Hossain 3/32)
Kandy Warriors 135/4 (19.2) (Ravi Bopara 59 n.o., Angelo Perera 29; Imran Tahir 2/17, Ramesh Mendis 2/19)
Player of the Match: Ravi Bopara