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That will be all from the first double header of Lanka Premier League 2024 - this is Dwaipayan Mukherjee, signing off with my co-commentator Rajarshi - join us for more action from this tournament at 3PM tomorrow!
Thisara Perera, Colombo Strikers captain : I only changed my jersey but apart from that, my tactics and preparations remains the same. It was not easy to bat at the beginning but we got the best start in the competition. So we decided to take run a ball in the middle overs and then target the bowlers again at the end. 180-190 is a good score on this wicket considering our powerful batting. I always back my bowlers, the conversation was that 2-3 big overs can always happen in a big chase like this, specially with the quality that all teams have these days but we never put our head down. We kept believing that we can pull this off. All of these cricketers are professionals and it was great to see them perform, I believe in their abilities to deliver for us.
Wanindu Hasaranga, Kandy Falcons captain : Does not matter what we do after winning the toss - we did a lot of mistakes in all 3 departments - we did not deserve to win. It would not be fair to blame just the batters. It was an all-round bad day.
Shadab Khan has been adjudged Player Of The Match! Here's what he has to say: When I went to bat, it was turning a bit. I talked with Thisara Perera and said let's take it deep. I only know that this is my first one (On being the second bowler to take a hat-trick in the Lanka Premier League).
Colombo Strikers (198 for 7) defeat Kandy Falcons (147 all out) by 51 runs
What a game we have just witnessed! The chase began in the most attacking approach with Andre Fletcher very eagerly wanting to bury the ghosts of yesterday as he struck Thisara Perera for 3 consecutive boundaries in the opening over of the chase. While he departed after a quick fire 24 off only 12 balls, Dinesh Chandimal decided to take matters into his own hands in the last over of the powerplay where he smashed Chamika Karunaratne for 5 consecutive boundaries to put his team firmly on track for another successful chase.
Even though there were wickets falling at regular intervals, it was the partnership between Angelo Matthews and Wanindu Hasaranga that threatened to take their 2nd win in as many nights. But little did they know what was about to happen to them. It was a capitulation of historic proportions. Shadab Khan registered a hattrick and Dunith Wellalage cleaned up the tail in the very next over.
It was a sensational collapse from Kandy who will be disappointed at how they lost the game. Credit though to Shadab and Wellalage who were outstanding. They lost their last 6 wickets for only 7 runs. Presentations to follow soon.
15.5 Dunith Wellalage to Kasun Rajitha, STONE DEAD, and that is that! On a length around off stump, Rajitha looked to glance this across the line, played all around it and was hit on the knee roll on his front pad. The umpire's finger was up immediately, Rajitha reviews...
No bat involved. Three reds on ball-tracking. As comprehensive as they get, and the Strikers start their 2024 LPL campaign with a win!
Kasun Rajitha LBW b Dunith Wellalage 0 (3b, 0x4, 0x6)
15.4 Dunith Wellalage to Kasun Rajitha, on a length angled in, Rajitha taps this towards the mid wicket region
15.3 Dunith Wellalage to Kasun Rajitha, on a length outside off, Rajitha looked to dab at it, opted out
15.3 Dunith Wellalage to Kasun Rajitha, wide, floated up, but this one's down leg
15.2 Dunith Wellalage to Dasun Shanaka, BOWLS HIM! That should be the death rattle for the Falcons! Floated up around off stump, Shanaka opts for a slog sweep, has a go, misses and has his stumps re-arranged. What a dramatic collapse this has been!
Dasun Shanaka b Dunith Wellalage 5(4b, 1x4, 0x6)
15.1 Dunith Wellalage to Dasun Shanaka, on a length around middle and leg, Shanaka blocks
Shadab Khan becomes only the 2nd spinner to pick up a hattrick in the Lanka Premier League - the first spinner was someone belonging to the opposition tonight - Wanindu Hasaranga!
Dushmantha Chameera, RHB, comes to the crease
Dunith Wellalage [3.0-0-19-2] is back into the attack
15
overs
146/8score
1
4
1
W
W
w
runs
Pavan Rathnayake*
0(1)
Dasun Shanaka
5(2)
Shadab Khan
4/22
14.6 Shadab Khan to Pavan Rathnayake, PLUMB IN FRONT! Shadab Khan registers a hat-trick with his final ball of the night! Rathnayake reviews, but this seems fairly adjacent unless there's bat involved. On a length around off, Rathnayake moved acros his stumps to tuck it towards the leg side, ended up being rapped on the front leg.
Replays suggest that the ball was nowhere close to the bat. Three reds on ball-tracking. What a night this has been for Shadab Khan with the ball - he choked the runs in his first over or so, and has simply run through the Kandy lower-order in his final over!
Pavan Rathnayake LBW b Shadab Khan 0 (1b, 0x4, 0x6)
Pawan Rathnayake, RHB, comes to the crease
14.5 Shadab Khan to Agha Salman, BOWLS HIM WITH A GRUBBER! Shadab lands this one in on a length around off, Salman went back in his crease looking to steer this towards the off side. The ball didn't bounce as much, sneaked through from around the toe-end of his bat and clipped the off stump.
Agha Salman b Shadab Khan 0(1b, 0x4, 0x6)
Agha Salman, RHB, comes to the crease
In his 221 T20 matches as a batter, Dasun Shanaka has scored more than 2200 runs - but what is more important to note is that he has got those runs at a strike rate of more than 140! With Hasaranga back in the hut as well, Shanaka will need to take the responsibility now to ensure his side gets across the line again tonight.
14.4 Shadab Khan to Wanindu Hasaranga, TAKEN! Boy, have the Strikers turned up on the field or what?! Short of a length around off, Hasaranga rocked back, looked to drag this down the ground, ended up toe-ending it towards long on. The man on the boundary swooped in, flung himself forward and pouched the ball with both hands.
Wanindu Hasaranga c Muhammad Waseem b Shadab Khan 25(14b, 3x4, 1x6)