Kandy Falcons beat Colombo Stars by a mammoth 109 runs in the second match of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2022, played on Tuesday (6) at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium.

Colombo Stars Captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and opted to bowl first in order to get the maximum use of cloudy conditions at Hambantota.

Pathum Nissanka and Andre Fletcher opened the batting for Colombo Stars and the pair got off to a stunning start, adding on a record-breaking partnership for the first wicket. The pair added 156 runs off 94 balls for the first wicket, which is the highest partnership for any wicket in the tournament’s three-year history.

Fletcher went on to score the first century of this year’s LPL. His innings of 102 runs came off 67 balls and it included 11 fours and three sixes at a strike rate of 152.24. An in-form Pathum Nissanka continued his good run with the bat with a quick-fire 71 runs off 41 balls, which included eight fours and two sixes at a strike rate of 173.17.

Chasing a daunting target of 200 runs to win, the Colombo Stars got off to the worst possible start, losing their first three wickets for just 11 runs in 2.5 overs. Skipper Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal tried getting the innings going, but Wanindu Hasaranga came to the party with a stunning hat-trick – the first ever in LPL history.

Hasaranga’s hat-trick sealed the victory, as the Kandy Falcons registered a massive 109-run win in their first game of the tournament.

Brief Scores

Kandy Falcons – 199/1 (20) Andre Fletcher 102*, Pathum Nissanka 71, Carlos Brathwaite 20*

Colombo Stars 90 (14.3) Angelo Mathews 26, Keemo Paul 22, Wanindu Hasaranga 4/14, Fabian Allen 2/01