BY M. SHAMIL AMIT

(Daily Mirror) - Right-arm spinner Shadab Khan’s hat-trick in his final over paved the way for Colombo Strikers to record a comfortable 51-run win over Kandy Falcons in the LPL encounter played at Pallekele Stadium yesterday.

Khan was supported by Dunith Wellalage who ended with four scalps as the duo combined to bowl out Kandy Falcons for 147 runs Colombo Strikers lost their openers with 20 runs on the board in the third over. They recovered through three valuable partnerships first of 78 runs for the third wicket between Sadeera Samarawickrama who cracked 48 in only 26 balls inclusive of seven boundaries and a six, Mohammad Waseem 32 in 18 balls with two boundaries and two sixes.

Skipper Thisara Perera made 38 in 30 balls with five boundaries was involved in the other two partnerships though brief which were 38 runs for the sixth wicket with Shadab Khan and the other of 41 runs for the seventh wicket with Chamika Karunaratne which helped Colombo Strikers to end with a formidable score of 198 for 7.

Today’s matches – 3.00 p.m. - Dambulla Sixers vs Jaffna Kings. 7.30 p.m. – Colombo Strikers vs Galle Marvels.

Pix by: Kushan Pathiraja