Lanka Premier League - Wickramasinghe, Hemantha, Thusara, guides Dambulla Sixers to easy win

By M. Shamil Amit Reporting from Dambulla

An unbeaten quick fire knock of 56 in 34 balls inclusive of six boundaries and three sixes by Chamindu Wickramasinghe along with Dushan Hemantha and Nuwan Thushara who together shared six wickets between them paved the way for Dambulla Sixers to record an easy 25 runs win over fancied Galle Marvels in the 12th match of the fifth Lanka Premier League encounter played under floodlights at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium yesterday.

Galle Marvels in pursuit of a modest target of 161 runs put themselves in deep trouble and at the halfway stage was struggling on 54 for 6. The right arm pace Thushara did the early damage when he bagged the crucial wickets of skipper Niroshan Dickwella, Tim Seifert and Bhanuka Rajapaksa while spinner Hemantha dismantled the middle order batting which included the important wicket that of Alex Hales.

Isuru Udana put in some resistance but the cream of the batting was all back in the pavilion and he was stranded and despite him making a fighting knock of 72 in 38 balls with five boundaries and five sixes it came too late and it could not prevent from Dambulla Sixes chalking up their second win.

Earlier Dambulla Sixers invited to take first lease of the wicket too underwent some anxious as they lost wickets at regular intervals and was struggling on 87 for 6 in the 13th over before Wickramasinghe came to rescue of the side.

Wickramasinghe playing with confidence led the recovery as he shared brief but valuable partnerships with the best being an unbroken stand of 38 runs for the ninth with Nuwan Pradeep. In fact Wickramasinghe scored the bulk of runs and remained unbeaten to guide Dambulla Sixers to end with a respectable score of 160.

Two matches down for decision today being Colombo Strikers vs Jaffna Kings at 3.00 p.m. and Kandy Falcons vs Galle Marvels at 7.30 p.m.