The fifth edition of the Lanka Premier League 2024 was kicked off today where defending champions Kandy Falcons beat Dambulla Sixers by 6 wickets at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy.
After the grand opening ceremony of LPL season 5, Kandy Falcons skipper Wanindu Hasaranga won the toss and asked Dambulla Sixers to bat first.
Danishka Gunathilaka and Kusal Perera opened the innings, but Dasun Shanaka who was given the new-bal duty, ripped through the Sixers top order which reduced them to 25/4 in 4.1 overs.
Mark Chapman and Chamindu Wickramasinghe joined in the middle and put on a brilliant fightback as the duo stitched together in a record-breaking 5th wicket partnership in LPL history.
A 154-run unbroken stand in 99 deliveries helped Dambulla Sixers to post 179/4 in their 20 overs. Chapman had a memorable outing on his LPL debut, smashing an unbeaten 91 off just 61 balls while hitting 8 fours & 4 sixes.
Wickramasinghe who has been included in the playing XI as the under 23 player, also impressed with the bat as he remained not out on 62 off 42 balls including 4 fours & 3 sixes.
Shanaka finished with 3/20 in his 4-over spell and Mohammad Hasnain picked up the other wicket while giving away 53 runs.
Chasing a record chase for Kandy Falcons, Dinesh Chandimal and Andre Fletcher came in as openers before Nuwan Thushara shattered the stumps to get rid of the West Indian veteran for a golden duck in the first over.
Mustafizur Rahman has also struck off his very-first ball to dismiss Mohammad Haris with a return catch, leaving the home side at 26/2 in 3.1 overs. However, Chandimal went all guns blazing in the powerplay along with Kamindu Mendis.
The latter went on to reach his fifty within just 29 balls as the duo managed to add 56 runs for the 3rd wicket before Wickramasinghe getting the wicket of Mendis for 27. Soon after, Chandimal’s useful knock came to an end when he was played on to the stumps off Akila Dananjaya for a 40-ball 65.
Then, it was all about the pure clean-striking from the two finishers in Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka. They took the Falcons to pull off their highest successful run chase with a cracking 72-run stand for the 5th wicket off just 26 balls.
Shanaka showcased his power hitting ability with a 46-run knock in just 15 balls while hitting 3 fours & 5 sixes. Mathews supported him well with an unbeaten 37 off 20 balls and the home team raced towards the target in 17.2 overs.
The defending champions got off to a winning start with Shanaka named Player of the Match for his all-round brilliance.
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dhanushka Gunathilake | b Dasun Shanaka | 11 | 11 | 1 | 1 | 100.00 |
| Kusal Perera | c Wanindu Hasaranga b Mohammad Hasnain | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Nuwanidu Fernando | c Angelo Mathews b Dasun Shanaka | 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Towhid Hridoy | lbw b Dasun Shanaka | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Mark Chapman | not out | 91 | 61 | 8 | 4 | 149.18 |
| Chamindu Wickramasinghe | not out | 62 | 42 | 4 | 3 | 147.62 |
| Extras | 10 (b 0 , lb 1 , nb 4, w 5, pen 0) |
| Total | 179/4 (20 Overs, RR: 8.95) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dasun Shanaka | 4 | 0 | 20 | 3 | 5.00 | |
| Dushmantha Chameera | 4 | 0 | 27 | 0 | 6.75 | |
| Mohammad Hasnain | 4 | 0 | 53 | 1 | 13.25 | |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 4 | 0 | 32 | 0 | 8.00 | |
| Kamindu Mendis | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 8.00 | |
| Chamath Gomez | 3 | 0 | 38 | 0 | 12.67 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dinesh Chandimal | b Dhanushka Gunathilake | 65 | 40 | 6 | 3 | 162.50 |
| Andre Fletcher | b Nuwan Thushara | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Mohammad Haris | c & b Mustafizur Rahman | 5 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 62.50 |
| Kamindu Mendis | c Nuwanidu Fernando b Chamindu Wickramasinghe | 27 | 20 | 4 | 0 | 135.00 |
| Angelo Mathews | not out | 37 | 20 | 5 | 1 | 185.00 |
| Dasun Shanaka | not out | 46 | 15 | 3 | 5 | 306.67 |
| Extras | 3 (b 0 , lb 1 , nb 0, w 2, pen 0) |
| Total | 183/4 (17.2 Overs, RR: 10.56) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuwan Thushara | 3 | 0 | 35 | 1 | 11.67 | |
| Dilshan Madushanka | 3.2 | 0 | 31 | 0 | 9.69 | |
| Mustafizur Rahman | 3 | 0 | 44 | 1 | 14.67 | |
| Mohammad Nabi | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 | 12.00 | |
| Akila Dananjaya | 4 | 0 | 29 | 1 | 7.25 | |
| Chamindu Wickramasinghe | 3 | 0 | 31 | 1 | 10.33 | |
