END OF OVER:
20 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | DAT: 168/9 (55 runs required, RR: 8.40)

  • Nuwan Thushara1 (2b)
  • Dilshan Madushanka1 (1b)
  • Chaturanga de Silva1-0-9-1
  • Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-35-4

7:20pm That will be all from us for this game. In about half an hour, the Colombo Strikers will take on the Galle Marvels, and you can join Madushka for all the action. Until next time, this is goodbye from me, Chetan and Thilak. Take care, folks!

Wanindu Hasaranga, the Kandy Falcons captain is also the Player of the Match: It was a good toss to lose, especially on this kind of a wicket. We also did not read the wicket. That was an experienced innings from our finishers and our top order. (On how the spinners can bowl on this kind of pitch) Spinners should vary the pace and bowl that 4-5 metre length - that is very hard to hit. This game was a big game for us, and we won with a big margin.

Mohammad Nabi, Dambulla Sixers captain: (On the decision at the toss) Plus point to win the toss and we tried our best to keep the score as low as possible. As a bowling group, we did not bowl really well. If the conditions want something from you, you have to bowl according to it. Our lengths were not right, we were too full (when bowling). (On Hemantha) He used the conditions, that is why he bowled really well.

7:11pm A one-sided game and the second innings confirmed what was the general feeling at the half-way stage - that the Falcons just had too many on the board. Perera tried to keep Dambulla in the hunt but support was not forthcoming for him. He had to wage a lone battle and the most of the cameos came after he had been dismissed and the Sixers were fighting to reduce the deficit of their defeat.

As for the Falcons, Hasaranga, like he did with the bat, stood up, picking up four wickets. Shanaka was tidy throughout and bagged three, whereas Mendis was just as neat, even if he did not pick up a wicket. Hasnain was sharp and his pace seemed to give the Falcons a point of difference, which could yet be crucial in what remains of this season.

The Falcons needed a win today, and they got it. Not just that, they won by a handsome margin, which has now put even more pressure on the Sixers. There is still a scenario where the Falcons might not qualify for the playoffs, but even if that happens, they will be happy that they gave it everything in their last game.

19.6
0
de Silva to Thushara, no run, The Falcons win by 54 runs, and the defending champions live to see another day in the LPL! Slowed up on a length outside off. Thushara has a wild whoosh across the line and connects with fresh air. Dot to end the innings, and that wraps up a comfortable win for the Falcons!
19.5
1
de Silva to Madushanka, 1 run, short outside off. Madushanka flat-bats it over the bowler's head
19.4
1
de Silva to Thushara, 1 run, back of a length on middle and off. Thushara has a huge mow across the line and loses his bat in the process. The ball trickles away into the on side. Seems like he did not get the right pair of gloves out, after all

Thushara is the last man in. Looks like he might have initially walked down with a wrong pair of gloves. Gets that sorted and is now set to take strike

19.3
W
de Silva to Hemantha, OUT, Chaturanga gets the better of Hemantha! Floated up on a length outside off. Drifts into Hemantha and that entices him to come down and have a slog across the line. Spins away just enough to breeze past the bat and Chandimal does the rest behind the stumps!

MADI Hemantha st †Chandimal b de Silva 17 (10b 1x4 2x6) SR: 170.00

19.3
1w
de Silva to Hemantha, 1 wide, tries to hide it outside off but bowls it too far wide. More exercise for the umpire
19.2
6
de Silva to Hemantha, SIX, these are extremely crucial runs! Tossed up full outside off. Hemantha marches down the track and smears it over long on!
19.1
0
de Silva to Hemantha, no run, back of a length just outside off. Grips in the surface and straightens, going past Hemantha's swipe

Chaturanga to bowl the final over. Dambulla need 64, which they will not get. Hemantha on strike. Around the wicket

END OF OVER:
19 | 16 Runs 1 Wkt | DAT: 159/8 (64 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 8.36, RRR: 64.00)

  • Dushan Hemantha11 (7b)
  • Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-35-4
  • Mohammad Hasnain4-0-31-1
18.6
W
Hasaranga to Wickramasinghe, OUT, goes straight up, and Hasaranga finishes with a four-for! Tosses up the googly invitingly outside off. Wickramasinghe, because of the line, has to fetch this one. Does not pick the googly either and cuts across it too much. Lobs up tamely for Hasaranga, who gobbles up a regulation return chance!

C Wickramasinghe c & b Hasaranga 18 (13b 1x4 1x6) SR: 138.46

18.5
2
Hasaranga to Wickramasinghe, 2 runs, back of a length on off. Wickramasinghe sits deep in his crease and swings it away towards deep square leg for a brace
18.4
6
Hasaranga to Wickramasinghe, SIX, six more, and this is even bigger! Hasaranga dangles the carrot again, and Wickramasinghe feasts on it. Dances down the track and wallops it over deep mid wicket!
18.3
1
Hasaranga to Hemantha, 1 run, googly on a back of a length on off. Hemantha goes back and jabs it towards extra cover
18.2
6
Hasaranga to Hemantha, SIX, clean strike! Tossed up into the slot on middle and leg. Hemantha backs away, swings through the line and launches it over long on!
18.1
1
Hasaranga to Wickramasinghe, 1 run, shortish just outside off. Wickramasinghe hops back and punches it powerfully to long off

END OF OVER:
18 | 5 Runs | DAT: 143/7 (80 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.94, RRR: 40.00)

  • Dushan Hemantha4 (5b)
  • Chamindu Wickramasinghe9 (9b)
  • Mohammad Hasnain4-0-31-1
  • Dasun Shanaka4-0-29-3
17.6
0
Mohammad Hasnain to Hemantha, no run, back-of-the-hand slower ball. Pitches on a length just outside off and deviates away. Hemantha continues swinging like a rusty gate and makes no contact, unsurprisingly
17.5
0
Mohammad Hasnain to Hemantha, no run, another slower ball on a length outside off. Hemantha has an old-fashioned whoosh across the line and only swats away a few flies in the process
17.4
0
Mohammad Hasnain to Hemantha, no run, off-pace on a length outside off. Hemantha advances and looks to go inside out. This time, he plays too early, possibly because he did not pick the variation
17.3
0
Mohammad Hasnain to Hemantha, no run, banged into the track on middle and off. Good wheels on that delivery and Hemantha is comfortably late on the pull
17.2
4
Mohammad Hasnain to Hemantha, FOUR, that should help the NRR cause! Back of a length on middle and off. Hemantha clears his front leg and pounds it past mid on!
17.1
1
Mohammad Hasnain to Wickramasinghe, 1 run, full on leg stump. Wickramasinghe gives himself some room and flicks it to long on

Here's Hasnain. Hemantha is the new batter but at the non-striker's end for now

END OF OVER:
17 | 5 Runs 1 Wkt | DAT: 138/7 (85 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.11, RRR: 28.33)

  • Chamindu Wickramasinghe8 (8b)
  • Dasun Shanaka4-0-29-3
  • Mohammad Hasnain3-0-26-1
16.6
W
Shanaka to Dinusha, OUT, taken superbly by Hasaranga! Shanaka takes pace off and bowls it into the track outside off. Dinusha gives it the slot and slices it towards extra cover Hasaranga tracks it all the way and then swoops down sharply to his right to complete the catch!

GS Dinusha c Hasaranga b Shanaka 17 (16b 1x4 0x6) SR: 106.25

16.5
1
Shanaka to Wickramasinghe, 1 run, short outside off again. Wickramasinghe cannot get on top of it and slaps it on the bounce to long off
16.4
1
Shanaka to Dinusha, 1 run, slower yorker on leg stump. Dinusha digs it out towards long off. There is a slight misfield but the batters opt against running the second
16.3
2
Shanaka to Dinusha, 2 runs, off-pace and into the track outside off. Dinusha throws his hands at it and jabs it uppishly towards mid off. Lands just in front of Fletcher, stationed on the ring
16.2
0
Shanaka to Dinusha, no run, slower bumper outside off. Dinusha advances and then swings himself off his feet. Does not lay bat on ball, though
16.1
1
Shanaka to Wickramasinghe, 1 run, slow and short outside off. Wickramasinghe tries to hit it too hard and scuffs it towards extra cover. Hesitation between the batters and Wickramasinghe has to then rush. Hasaranga takes his time, takes aim at the bowler's end but misses, allowing Wickramasinghe a reprieve

Shanaka to bowl out. 90 needed off 24

Sixers 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st11RR HendricksMDKJ Perera
2nd5MDKJ PereraIbrahim Zadran
3rd31MDKJ PereraLU Igalagamage
4th40MDKJ PereraMS Chapman
5th9Mohammad NabiMDKJ Perera
6th29MDKJ PereraGS Dinusha
7th13GS DinushaC Wickramasinghe
8th21MADI HemanthaC Wickramasinghe
9th7MADI HemanthaD Madushanka
10th2D MadushankaN Thushara