END OF OVER:
20 | 8 Runs 1 Wkt | BLK: 160/8 (10 runs required, RR: 8.00)

  • Mohammad Hasnain0 (1b)
  • Isuru Udana5 (5b)
  • Matheesha Pathirana4-0-32-2
  • Naseem Shah4-0-28-1

And that wraps up our coverage of this exciting LPL 2023 fixture. See you tomorrow for Kandy v Dambulla. Thank you.

11.20pm Presentation time. Lots of contenders for POTM.

Winning captain Chamika Karunaratne:"It was tough and the wicket was really good. The way boys played was excellent. Pathum and Nipun, especially in his first game, the way he played. I backed Nipun because of the way he plays. Nawaz, Nuwanidu and me batted well too. Bowlers after that excellent. (Iftikhar bowling) If Iftikhar is playing, I wanted him to bowl to left-handers on one side. It was my plan and the team was happy with that. (Must-win game next) I'm not a relaxed person because I said to the boys that there is nothing called 100%, there is something more than that. So told them to lets do that and even if we don't win despite it. doesn't matter.

Losing captain Wanindu Hasaranga: "Next game we will be back to a full-strength team. We rested a few players today but they batted and bowled well. We rested Chandimal and gave youngsters some chance... but we didn't manage our first six overs well while batting. I have asked Angelo to bowl with the new ball and he said he can, just needed two days to practice. He is ready to go. He is the best allrounder in our country."

Pathum Nissanka is the Player of the Match: "Babar is experienced and world class. Learning a lot from him. Just played with the flow after his wicket and I thought I still had 10-15 more runs to add to the team total."

Ifhaam: "In the entire tournament, it seemed like Hasarnanga alone carried the whole team on his shoulder. "

Monasha: "Jaffna is through I guess, only Galle or Colombo now go pass Jaffna's RR" -- unless Galle v Colombo is a washout, then both move up to 7.

11.14pm So Colombo Strikers will live to fight another day in a bid to qualify while B-Love Kandy will need another game to try and secure a top-two finish. Their bowlers stepped up in defending this total, backed up initially but Nissanka, Nipun and Nuwanidu who helped them reach 169.

After that, Naseem Shah, Vandersay, Pathirana and Iftikhar were excellent to ensure the Kandy side were never ahead in the chase. Colombo's next game is an effective knock-out, and today's outing will give them massive confidence and belief.

19.6
0
Pathirana to Mohammad Hasnain, no run, ful lball outside off. Grubber through to the keeper and Strikers win by nine runs
19.5
W
Pathirana to Bandara, OUT, game, set, match. With one ball to go. Full ball just outside off and Bandara tried to slog it over the leg side but gets an inside edge onto the stumps

KNA Bandara b Pathirana 22 (18b 3x4 0x6) SR: 122.22

19.4
1
Pathirana to Udana, 1 run, knee-high full toss around off and flat-batted to long on for just a single. No-ball not given, that was marginally below the waist
19.3
2
Pathirana to Udana, 2 runs, 11 needed off three now Full just outside off and dragged to deep midwicket. The lack of timing allowed two and Udana is disappointed not being able to pin a boundary
19.2
1
Pathirana to Bandara, 1 run, yorker length outside off. Driven to cover for one and despite a misfield they choose not to risk a second
19.1
4
Pathirana to Bandara, FOUR, good length ball wide outside off. Drags this shot through to wide long on, beating deep square leg and long on!

Equation is clear. 18 to win.

END OF OVER:
19 | 8 Runs | BLK: 152/7 (18 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.00, RRR: 18.00)

  • Ashen Bandara17 (15b)
  • Isuru Udana2 (3b)
  • Naseem Shah4-0-28-1
  • Matheesha Pathirana3-0-24-1
18.6
1
Naseem Shah to Bandara, 1 run, full ball outside leg stump. Bandara moves further leg side and lifts it over to long on
18.5
2
Naseem Shah to Bandara, 2 runs, yorker length around leg stump. Toe-ended to mid on, and with the fielder back it allows them to take a second
18.4
0
Naseem Shah to Bandara, no run, yorker length around leg and tailing in further. The batter is floored trying to protect his toes. Through to the keeper
18.3
1lb
Naseem Shah to Udana, 1 leg bye, full ball around leg stump. Misses the yorker. Hits the pad and they scurry across for one
18.3
2w
Naseem Shah to Bandara, 2 wides, short of length on middle and angling down leg. Bandara was prepared to play something cheeky past fine leg but then chooses not to

packed off-side field. Off side is shorter side.

18.2
1
Naseem Shah to Udana, 1 run, full ball around leg stump. Clears the front leg and hits it to mid off. Mistimed
18.1
1
Naseem Shah to Bandara, 1 run, full ball tailing into leg. Driven to wide long on for a single

END OF OVER:
18 | 13 Runs 1 Wkt | BLK: 144/7 (26 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.00, RRR: 13.00)

  • Ashen Bandara13 (11b)
  • Isuru Udana1 (1b)
  • Matheesha Pathirana3-0-24-1
  • Jeffrey Vandersay4-0-39-2
17.6
1
Pathirana to Bandara, 1 run, yorker around off. Guided to point for a single
17.5
4
Pathirana to Bandara, FOUR, useful runs, getting this to the boundary by stretching out and drilling a shot towards cover. Full ball outside off and Bandara had to really reach out. Substitute fielder at deep extra cover has an awkward bounce to deal with, and it is the ball that wins the battle. Skids through to the fence
17.4
1
Pathirana to Udana, 1 run, full ball just outside off. Mistimes a drive to mid off's left for a single
17.3
W
Pathirana to Asif Ali, OUT, youngster gets the experienced pro! And he's done it with a yorker around off. The ball sneaks under Asif's bat as he tries to drive, and the bails have lit up and how

Asif Ali b Pathirana 33 (15b 2x4 3x6) SR: 220.00

17.3
1w
Pathirana to Asif Ali, 1 wide, good length ball going over the tram-lines outside off. Asif moved to the off side but then came back into position to collect the extra
17.2
0
Pathirana to Asif Ali, no run, low full toss around middle and leg. Tried to flick it leg side to pierce the leg-side gap but a leading edge sends the ball to the other side. That was begging to be dispatched for four
17.1
6
Pathirana to Asif Ali, SIX, so sweet for Kandy! Full ball in the slot outside off. Asif clears the front leg and launches into a straight six over long on

Pressure on Strikers. 13 per over is no problem for Asif Ali on most days. What will the bowling plan be now? Pathirana has two overs, so here's one.

END OF OVER:
17 | 15 Runs | BLK: 131/6 (39 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.70, RRR: 13.00)

  • Ashen Bandara8 (9b)
  • Asif Ali27 (12b)
  • Jeffrey Vandersay4-0-39-2
  • Naseem Shah3-0-21-1
16.6
0
Vandersay to Bandara, no run, finishes with 2-39, two very important wickets tonight. This over ruined his figures but otherwise a positive evening out. This was full outside off and Bandara missed the cut with the ball also turning away
16.5
1
Vandersay to Asif Ali, 1 run, full ball outside off. Drilled with the turn to long off
16.4
0
Vandersay to Asif Ali, no run, full on off. Exquisite delivery, turning away with Asif tentative in his defense. Past the edge!
16.3
6
Vandersay to Asif Ali, SIX, oh this one is even bigger! Slog sweep sent over cow corner. Full ball around middle and the googly is deposited. #DownOnOneKnee
16.2
2
Vandersay to Asif Ali, 2 runs, flatter. Full on middle. Skidding through. Flicked to deep midwicket and they call quickly for the second run

Kandy 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st4Fakhar ZamanMohammad Haris
2nd22Fakhar ZamanSSD Arachchige
3rd36Fakhar ZamanPW Hasaranga
4th8AD MathewsPW Hasaranga
5th22AD MathewsPC de Silva
6th4AD MathewsAsif Ali
7th42Asif AliKNA Bandara
8th22I UdanaKNA Bandara
9th0I UdanaMohammad Hasnain