The Colombo Strikers clinched an epic run-chase to seal their second win of the Lanka Premier League 2023 in Match No. 10, played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy.
After having won the toss, Colombo Strikers Captain Niroshan Dickwella asked the Galle Titans to bat first. The Titans made just one change, bringing in Minod Bhanuka in place of Lahiru Samarakoon, while the Strikers decided to go with Lahiru Udara and Lakshan Sandakan replacing Dhananjaya Lakshan and Jeffrey Vandersay.
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Lasith Croospulle and Shevon Daniel took the attack to the opposition right from the beginning of their innings, racing to 87 in 7.5 overs. Lakshan Sandakan drew first blood when Croospulle went for a reverse-sweep and ended up dragging it onto his stumps off his glove. He stroked a quick-fire 36 off 19 balls including 4 fours & 2 sixes.
Seven balls later, Daniel was unfortunately trapped LBW by Ramesh Mendis for 49. His knock came off 31 balls with 5 fours & 2 sixes. Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Tim Seifert then joined in the middle and looked to keep up the momentum. In the meantime, Seifert got a life after a big mix-up with his partner where the keeper made a mess of things. He dislodged the bails with his gloves before the ball even arrived, and all the good work from the fielder went in vain.
An 87-run stand came to an end when Rajapaksa was cleaned up by Naseem Shah. The former really struggled to get going, making a 31-ball 30. Seifert, though, maximized the opportunity and reached his 2nd fifty in this season. He remained unbeaten on 54 off 35 as the Galle Titans finished on 188/3 in the 20 overs.
Lakshan Sandakan was the pick of the bowlers on the bowling front, grabbing 1/29, while Ramesh Mendis and Naseem Shah also took a wicket each.
Chasing a big target, Babar Azam and Pathum Nissanka provided a steady start to the Strikers’ innings. The duo went along nicely and finished off the Powerplay on 63/0. They continued to pile on the runs and put on a massive 111 runs for the 1st wicket in 12.3 overs.
Tabraiz Shamsi broke the partnership, dismissing Nissanka for 54. Pakistani Captain Babar Azam showed his class and registered his maiden LPL hundred off 57 deliveries, becoming the 4th batter to do so. This is his 10th T20 century and consisted 8 fours & 5 sixes.
With 14 runs to win in the final over, the centurion perished off the first ball, putting immense pressure on his side. However, Mohammad Nawaz delivered what they needed, hitting a six and a four to seal the game for the Colombo Strikers with one ball to spare.
The victorious side got their second win and moved up to third place in the Points Table. All five teams now have 2 wins and 2 losses in 4 games apiece.
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lasith Croospulle | b Lakshan Sandakan | 36 | 19 | 4 | 2 | 189.47 |
| Shevon Daniel | lbw b Ramesh Mendis | 49 | 31 | 5 | 2 | 158.06 |
| Bhanuka Rajapaksa | b Naseem Shah | 30 | 31 | 2 | 0 | 96.77 |
| Tim Seifert | not out | 54 | 35 | 4 | 3 | 154.29 |
| Dasun Shanaka | not out | 6 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 150.00 |
| Extras | 13 (b 7 , lb 1 , nb 0, w 5, pen 0) |
| Total | 188/3 (20 Overs, RR: 9.4) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Naseem Shah | 4 | 0 | 36 | 1 | 9.00 | |
| Ramesh Mendis | 4 | 0 | 33 | 1 | 8.25 | |
| Mohammad Nawaz | 2 | 0 | 21 | 0 | 10.50 | |
| Matheesha Pathirana | 4 | 0 | 41 | 0 | 10.25 | |
| Chamika Karunaratne | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 10.00 | |
| Lakshan Sandakan | 4 | 0 | 19 | 1 | 4.75 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pathum Nissanka | c Shevon Daniel b Tabraiz Shamsi | 54 | 40 | 5 | 1 | 135.00 |
| Babar Azam | c Shakib Al Hasan b Kasun Rajitha | 104 | 59 | 8 | 5 | 176.27 |
| Nuwanidu Fernando | c Dasun Shanaka b Tabraiz Shamsi | 8 | 13 | 0 | 0 | 61.54 |
| Chamika Karunaratne | not out | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 66.67 |
| Mohammad Nawaz | not out | 14 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 350.00 |
| Extras | 7 (b 0 , lb 0 , nb 0, w 7, pen 0) |
| Total | 189/3 (19.5 Overs, RR: 9.53) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kasun Rajitha | 2.5 | 0 | 42 | 1 | 16.80 | |
| Shakib Al Hasan | 4 | 0 | 30 | 0 | 7.50 | |
| Richard Ngarava | 4 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 10.00 | |
| Tabraiz Shamsi | 4 | 0 | 27 | 2 | 6.75 | |
| Dasun Shanaka | 2 | 0 | 15 | 0 | 7.50 | |
| Akila Dananjaya | 3 | 0 | 35 | 0 | 11.67 | |
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 to beat the Galle Titans in Match No. 10 of the Lanka Premier League 2023, played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy.){kind=link}