Right then! That brings an end to the league stage of the tournament and we are last with the final four sides. Dambulla Sixers have won a closely contested low affair but they have failed to advance to an inferior NRR. The next match of the Lanka Premier League will be the Qualifier 1 between Galle Marvels and Jaffna Kings which starts at 3 pm IST (9.30 am GMT) on 18th of July 2024. You can join us early for the pre-match buildup. Till then, stay safe and enjoy your time.
The skipper of Dambulla Sixers, Mohammad Nabi IS THE PLAYER OF THE MATCH. He says that the pitch was tricky and they lost wickets at the top and had to consolidate for a while but were dismissed when they were looking to go big. Adds taking the spinners for some was crucial as the ball was gripping and targeting them early would have restricted them from using those googlies and flippers. Mentions restricting the opponents below 47 was their aim as they took the field and they had nothing to lose with such a low score and walked out with a positive mindset. Closes by saying they are unfortunate not to qualify for the next round but they enjoyed their time.
Thisara Perera, the skipper of Colombo Strikers, says they knew the wicket would turn in the second innings and they planned to hang on till the end but sometimes things don't go your way and they will learn. Adds that they did well as a bowling unit but the failed to back it up with the bat.
Presentation...
As a result of this game, Kandy Falcons advance to the next round and they will play the Eliminator. Dambulla Sixers misses out on advancing in the tournament. In a tournament having five teams, only the fifth team was bound to miss the next round of play and that team happens to be Dambulla Sixers.
Saying that, we all felt, they would cruise home yet again as the target was a small one but they lost three in no time. Chamindu Wickramasinghe and Nuwan Pradeep were the stars with the new ball as they had Colombo Strikers right on the back foot. Akila Dananjaya then along with Mohammad Nabi were really good. Thisara Perera put on a fight but it was too much for him to do alone. In the end, they’ve fallen short by quite a few.
A very good win for the Dambulla Sixers as they win this by 28 runs! They saved their best for the last! Probably their best bowling effort in the tournament but this is nothing but a consolation win for them. Colombo Strikers, on the other hand, face their first defeat after two games and this defeat will mean they do not finish in the top two. They needed a win to do so but that was not to be. On the contrary, Dambulla Sixers despite winning this and ending with the same points as the Falcons won't advance to the next round due to an inferior net run rate to Kandy Falcons.
In over# 19
0W
Nuwan Pradeep 20/3(2.1)
OUT! IT IS ALL OVER AS Reeza Hendricks HOLDS ON! On a length angling across the left-hander, Thisara Perera swings hard and fails to get it out of the middle. the ball gets a thickish outside edge flying towards Reeza Hendricks at deep third and holds onto this. Dambulla Sixers crases out of the tournament but they win this and deal a blow to Colombo Strikers as they miss out on finishing at the top of the table. Dambulla Sixers wins this by 28 runs.
18.1
W
OUT! IT IS ALL OVER AS Reeza Hendricks HOLDS ON! On a length angling across the left-hander, Thisara Perera swings hard and fails to get it out of the middle. the ball gets a thickish outside edge flying towards Reeza Hendricks at deep third and holds onto this. Dambulla Sixers crases out of the tournament but they win this and deal a blow to Colombo Strikers as they miss out on finishing at the top of the table. Dambulla Sixers wins this by 28 runs.
In over# 18
0
1
0
6
0
1W
Nuwan Thushara 17/0(2)
17.6
.
Yorker bang on middle. Matheesha Pathirana does well to block this out. Matheesha Pathirana survives but the task is still tall for the Strikers to win this one. 29 needed off the last 12 balls.
17.5
1
Full and wide outside off, Thisara Perera drills this to long off and takes one. Exposes Matheesha Pathirana to Nuwan Thushara for one delivery.
17.4
.
Wide yorker outside off, Thisara Perera swings and fails to get bat behind this.
17.3
6
SIX! SLOGGED! On a length around middle and leg, Thisara Perera clears his front leg and slogs this well over the ropes towards the deep mid-wicket region and gets six runs.
17.2
.
Good length on off, Thisara Perera clears his front leg and swings in expectation. The ball lobs high in the dark sky towards the vacant area behind extra cover. Chamindu Wickramasinghe makes good ground running in from he long off fence and fails to catch a tough chance. No run taken.
OUT! RUN OUT! The striker's castle is falling apart. On a length outside off. Thisara Perera hammers this through cover and calls for the second. The throw from Dushan Hemantha was pin-point from the fence towards the non-striking end and Nuwan Thushara did the rest by breaking the stumps. Binura Fernando was way short off his crease.
17.1
W
OUT! RUN OUT! The striker's castle is falling apart. On a length outside off. Thisara Perera hammers this through cover and calls for the second. The throw from Dushan Hemantha was pin-point from the fence towards the non-striking end and Nuwan Thushara did the rest by breaking the stumps. Binura Fernando was way short off his crease.