Kandy Falcons thrash Dambulla Sixers in must-win game

By M. Shamil Amit 

A tremendous batting effort by the Kandy Falcons helped them to register a convincing 54-run victory over Dambulla Sixers in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 Cricket Tournament 18th match played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo yesterday.

Kandy Falcons started this must-win game at the bottom of the points table and they executed their game plan beautifully before recording their third win of the tournament.        

The defending champions rattled up a massive 222 for four from their 20 overs after they were invited to bat first and then restricted their opponents to 168 for nine in 20 overs.

Opener Andre Fletcher set the tone with a 34-ball 60 which was studded with seven sixes and one boundary before he was fourth out in the 13th over of the innings.  

Skipper Wanindu Hasaranga then promoted himself in the order and kept the momentum going before Angelo Mathews and Kamindu Mendis ripped Dambulla Sixers apart in the last five overs.

The pair added 79 runs, including 26 off the final over as Mathews hoisted Chamindu Wickramasinghe for four sixes in successive deliveries.  

In reply, Dambulla Sixers lost wickets at regular intervals despite a superb 74 from opener Kusal Perera, who hoisted five sixes and five boundaries before Hasaranga polished off the tail with a four-wicket haul.    
Chief scores: 

Kandy Falcons: 222/4 in 20 overs (Andre Fletcher 60, Mohammad Haris 24, Wanindu Hasaranga 25, Kamindu Mendis 51 n.o, Angelo Mathews 44 n.o, Dushan Hemantha 3/14)

Dambulla Sixers: 168/9 in 20 overs (Kusal Perera 74, Mark Chapman 24, Dasun Shanaka 3/29, Wanindu Hasaranga 4/35).