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That's all from us for today. Hope you enjoyed our telecast of the Lanka Premier League, 2022. Join us for more action tomorrow. It's Bala and Srivathsa signing off. Good night!
With that victory, Kandy Falcons assert their position at the top of the table even more firmly. They have 12 points from 7 games with a mind-numbing net run rate. Jaffna Kings, who have a game in hand, are in the second position with 8 points. And after tonight's thrashing, the net run rate of Colombo Stars has taken a hammering. It might be a scramble between the Stars and the Gladiators for that third place.
Wanindu Hasaranga (captain, Kandy Falcons): We played Oshane Thomas and rested Carlos Brathwaite. Oshane bowled really well today. We have (some) tough team selection (to do) in the next games. I haven't decided decided, probably going in with the same team, I want to finish on a high note. We played really good cricket throughout the tournament. We have experienced players and they are doing their job well.
Angelo Mathews (captain, Colombo Stars): My theory is, if there is no dew, why not bat first. Put a good score on the board and have the opposition under pressure. We didn't read the wicket well. After the early wickets, we did not adapt to the conditions. The middle-order let us down, but that happens. The shot selection was poor. The wicket was relaid, it had a bit of bounce and softness. I am okay. It was a bit of a niggle. Didn't want to take a chance.
Chamika Karunaratne (Player of the Match): I have to thank the universe. I had some bad energy, but now I am getting some positive energy. I was telling myself I had a bad patch and am over it, I told myself I could push myself more. I think with the new ball, I was just trying to bowl good lines, hit the deck hard. The bounce helped me in the first two wickets. Later on I was trying to change the pace up.
Well, then. It was always going to be a tough total to defend for the Colombo Stars. Their only chance was to take early wickets and create some scare in the Falcons dressing room. But the pair of Andre Fletcher and Kamindu Mendis played sensibly and ensured that they saw their team through.
Suranga Lakmal struck early, getting the better of Minod Bhanuka in the second over of the chase. But that was the only moment to cheer for the Stars bowling attack. Kamindu Mendis opened his account with a blistering cover drive off the first delivery that he faced and never looked back from that moment. He stuck to conventional cricket shots and kept the scoreboard moving.
Andre Fletched was a bit fortunate early in his innings with a couple of boundaries coming off the edges. But he made that early luck count and paced his innings really well. The key for the Falcons was that both the batters were sensible enough not to throw their wickets away after getting a start.
Kandy Falcons win by 9 wickets with 4 overs remaining!
16
overs
105/1score
0
2
0
0
1
1
runs
Andre Fletcher*
41(41)
Kamindu Mendis
51(48)
Ravi Bopara
0/4
15.6 Ravi Bopara to Andre Fletcher, FOUR! Andre Spiceman Fletcher hits the winning runs. Length ball angling into the pads. Just helps it along its way to the fineleg boundary
15.5 Ravi Bopara to Kamindu Mendis, straighter on a length, pushes it down to long-on for a single
15.4 Ravi Bopara to Kamindu Mendis, good length wide of the off-stump. Mendis slashes but makes no contact. A bit of extra bounce there
15.3 Ravi Bopara to Kamindu Mendis, full and wide of the off-stump. Smacks it straight to cover
15.2 Ravi Bopara to Kamindu Mendis, full delivery outside the off-stump. Drives it through extra cover and collects a brace. FIFTY up for Kamindu Mendis!
15.1 Ravi Bopara to Kamindu Mendis, full ball outside the off-stump. Squirts it out to backward point
Just a hit away now are Kandy. They want to get there slowly and steadily.
15
overs
101/1score
4
0
0
1
0
0
runs
Andre Fletcher*
40(40)
Kamindu Mendis
48(43)
Kasun Rajitha
0/19
14.6 Kasun Rajitha to Andre Fletcher, slower ball wide of the off-stump. Doesn't offer a stroke
14.5 Kasun Rajitha to Andre Fletcher, slower ball full on the off-stump. Dead bats it to backward point
14.4 Kasun Rajitha to Kamindu Mendis, fuller on a length on the stumps. Works it around to deep mid-wicket
14.3 Kasun Rajitha to Kamindu Mendis, attempts the ramp over the keeper seeing the short length. It's a slower one though and gets beaten