Rajitha stars as Dambulla implode once again

A career-best five-wicket haul by Kasun Rajitha set up an easy nine-wicket victory for the Colombo Stars at Pallekele yesterday as they handed Dambulla Aura their fifth loss in as many games this season.

The Dambulla batting line-up, which has failed to find its feet all tournament, got off to the worst possible start, with Rajitha sending openers Lasith Croospulle and Shevon Daniel back to the pavilion in the very first over of the game. 

Bhanuka Rajapaksa followed in the next over, slapping Suranga Lakmal to cover, and things went from bad to worse in Rajitha’s second over when he cleaned up Englishman Tom Abell with a sharp inswinger, which could pose a strong claim for the delivery of the tournament.

Jordan Cox and Dasun Shanaka attempted a counter-attack and took the score to 51 in the fifth over, but with both falling in quick succession, any hopes of Dambulla posting a semi-competitive total disappeared.

Pramod Madushan, at number ten, fought to make 23 not out, but that proved to be his side’s highest score for the night, as Jeffrey Vandersay with two wickets, and Rajitha returning for his second spell, cleaned up the tail to dismiss Dambulla Aura for just 89 runs with more than six overs left to play.

There was a momentary spark in defence of their target as Madushan castled Niroshan Dickwella with his first ball, but that was all the joy Dambulla were to get, as Dinesh Chandimal and Charith Asalanka put on an unbeaten 90-run stand in to give Colombo Stars their third win of the tournament with eight over to spare in the chase.

Asalanka, in particular, put the lacklustre opposition to the sword, scoring an unbeaten 58, which included five fours and four sixes in thirty-six balls. Chandimal, at the opposite end, hit the winning runs to finish off not out on 31.

The win took Colombo Stars to third place in the points table, while Dambulla Aura’s poor performance leaves them sitting in last place and having a tough ask ahead of them in order to challenge for one of the four play-off spots on offer.

Scores:

Dambulla Aura: 89 in 13.5 overs (P Madushan 23 no, D Shanaka 20, K Rajitha 5 for 22, J Vandersay 2 for 10)
Colombo Stars: 90 for 1 in 11.3 overs (C Asalanka 58 no, D Chandimal 31 no)