B-Love Kandy crush Dambulla Aura to win maiden LPL title

COLOMBO: A combined effort from the bowlers, followed by Kamindu Mendis’s brilliant 44-run knock led B-Love Kandy to thump Dambulla Aura by five wickets to win the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 title.

In a rematch of the two top-placed sides in the LPL 2023 final, B-Love Kandy emerged victorious despite missing their in-form skipper Wanindu Hasaranga — the leading run-scorer and wicket-taker of the tournament.

The table-toppers Dambulla Aura won the toss and opted to bat first.

However, their batting lineup failed to justify the decision of batting first and could pile a modest total of 147/4 in 20 overs against B-Love Kandy bowling attack, which lacked Hasaranga.

The Aura had a dismal start to their innings as Nuwan Pradeep dismissed Avishka Fernando (5) cheaply with just 11 runs on the board in the third over.

Following an early blow, Sadeera Samarawickrama joined his captain Kusal Mendis in the middle and launched recovery.

The pair added 57 runs to the total but remained a touch too slow in the processing.

Dambulla Aura, in dire need of some big hits, sustained a massive blow as both set batters Samarawickrama and Mendis perished in quick succession, leaving them reeling at 71/3 in 10.5 overs.

Samarawickrama scored 36 from 30 balls, hitting five boundaries, while Mendis scored a scratchy 23-ball 22 and could hit three boundaries.

Following the slump, Dhananjaya de Silva and Kusal Perera stood out for Dambulla Aura and launched a counterattack on B-Love Kandy.

The pair put on a vital 73-run stand for the fourth wicket and scored at a decent pace before Mohammad Hasnain removed the core aggressor de Silva.

He smashed three sixes on his way to top score for Dambulla Aura with a 29-ball 40.

Perera, on the other hand, carried his bat all the way through with a 25-ball 31 which featured two boundaries and a six.

For B-Love Kandy, Chaturanga de Silva bagged two wickets while Hasnain and Pradeep made one scalp each.

Chasing 148, B-Love Kandy completed the pursuit on the penultimate delivery when Lahiru Madushanka (5* off three) hit a match-winning boundary.

B-Love Kandy openers Mohammad Haris and Kamindu Mendis laid a solid foundation for the run chase with a brilliant 49-run stand.

The pair batted sensibly before Noor Ahmad drew a much-needed breakthrough for Dambulla Aura by castling Haris in the seventh over.

The opening batter scored 26 off 22 deliveries, smashing three boundaries and a six.

Meanwhile, Mendis stood his ground firm and put on another important partnership for B-Love Kandy as he shared a 45-run stand with Dinesh Chandimal before perishing in the 13th over when his side needed a further 54 runs in 44 deliveries.

Following his dismissal, B-Love Kandy sustained two setbacks in quick intervals when Chandimal and Chaturanga de Silva (0) fell in successive overs.

The wicketkeeper batter played a cautious 24-run knock in 22 balls with the help of three boundaries.

Coming out to bat at number six, Asif Ali soon turned the game on its head as he launched a counter-attack with a brief yet crucial cameo.

He shared a match-defining 25-run stand with experienced Angelo Mathews before perishing in the penultimate over after scoring a brisk 19 off 11 deliveries, laced up with two boundaries and a six.

Following his departure, Mathews spearheaded B-Love Kandy’s pursuit and displayed nerves of steel at the death to steer his side to their maiden LPL title.

Mathews scored an unbeaten 25 off 21 deliveries and hit three boundaries.

Despite ending up on a losing side, Noor Ahmad impressed with his sensational figures of 3/27 in four overs while Binura Fernando took two wickets for Dambulla Aura.

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All-round Hasaranga powers B-Love Kandy into LPL final at Titans’ disposal

COLOMBO: Wanindu Hasaranga paired up his 48-run knock with two wickets and muscled B-Love Kandy into the Lanka Premier League (LPL) final with a convincing 34-run victory over Galle Titans in the Qualifier 2 on Friday.

Opting to bat first, B-Love Kandy posted a decent total of 157/7 on the board, courtesy of a match-saving 48-run knock by skipper Hasaranga.

B-Love Kandy got off to a poor start to their innings as they were reduced to 20/3 inside five overs.

Following the slump, Hasaranga joined experienced Dinesh Chandimal at the crease and launched a counterattack with clean hitting.

The pair pulled B-Love Kandy out of trouble, adding 72 runs for the fourth wicket at a brisk rate before Hasaranga faltered and fell just two shy of his half-century.

The all-rounder smashed three boundaries and four sixes on his way to a 30-ball 48.

Chandimal soon followed Hasaranga back to the pavilion after stitching a brief 13-run partnership with Angelo Mathews.

Chandimal scored 38 from 37 deliveries, laced up with three boundaries and a six.

Following his dismissal, Mathews and Chaturanga de Silva added valuable runs at the death and bolstered the team’s total.

Mathews scored 24 off 17 before getting run out in the final over while de Silva played a brisk 15-run cameo in just six deliveries.

Kumara and Sonal Dinusha bagged two wickets each for Galle Titans while Kasun Rajitha and Shakib Al Hasan made one scalp each.

Set to chase 158, Galle Titans’ batting lineup failed and could only raise 123/8 in the allotted overs.

Their openers Litton Das and Lasith Croospulle provided a flying start as they had piled up 37 runs in the first four overs.

Chaturanga de Silva provided a much-needed breakthrough to B-Love Kandy as he dismissed Das in the fifth over, who scored 25 off 19 deliveries.

Galle Titans then lost two wickets — Lasith Croospulle (14) and Sohan de Livera (1) — in quick successions and thus were slipped to 45/3 in the seventh over.

Shakib Al Hasan and Sonal Dinusha then attempted to anchor the run chase as they put on a brief 28-run partnership before the former perished in the 12th over, scoring 17 off 15.

Galle Titans then lost wickets at regular intervals which halted the flow of runs and they were consequently restricted to 123/8 in 20 overs.

Dinusha top-scored for the Titans with a cautious 32-ball 28, hitting a six.

Wanindu Hasaranga-led B-Love Kandy will now take on table-toppers Dambulla Aura in the LPL 2023 final, scheduled on Sunday.

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Colombo Strikers edge B-Love Kandy to keep LPL playoffs hopes alive

COLOMBO: Pathum Nissanka’s anchoring half-century, followed by a combined bowling effort from the bowlers led Colombo Strikers to a narrow nine-run victory over B-Love Kandy and remained in contention to reach the Lanka Premier League (LPL) playoffs.

Opting to bat first, the Strikers posted a commendable total of 169/9 on the board, thanks to a sensible half-century by Pathum Nissanka and Nipun Dhananjaya’s brisk 40-run knock.

Earlier, the home side got off to a poor start as they lost two quick wickets inside the powerplay as star batter Babar Azam (9) and Lahiru Udara (1) perished cheaply.

With the home side reeling at 28/2 in 4.1 Overs, Nissanka was joined by Dhananjaya and the pair knitted an anchoring 69-run partnership for the third wicket.

The pair appeared in complete control as they scored at a brisk rate before Chaturanga de Silva dismissed Dhananjaya in the 12th over.

The left-handed batter smashed one boundary and three sixes on his way to a 29-ball 40.

Meanwhile, Nissanka stood his ground firm and notched up another vital partnership for the Strikers as he added 30 runs for the fourth wicket with Mohammad Nawaz before finally perishing in the 16th over soon after amassing his gutsy half-century.

He top-scored for the Strikers with a 38-ball 51 which featured four boundaries and a six.

Following his departure, Mohammad Nawaz (21), Chamika Karunaratne (17) and Naseem Shah (15) made important contributions at the death to bolster their team’s total.

For B-Love Kandy, Angelo Mathews, Isuru Udana and Wanindu Hasaranga bagged two wickets each while de Silva and Nuwan Pradeep picked one apiece.

Set to chase 170, B-Love Kandy, placed second in the LPL 2023 standings, fell just nine runs short as they could accumulate 160/8 despite Hasaranga and Asif Ali’s blitz.

The visitors, after losing early wickets, batted cautiously which resulted in the required run rate mounting.

B-Love Kandy were 70/4 halfway through despite a brisk 40-run knock by their skipper Hasaranga. The all-rounder conceded just 21 balls and struck six boundaries and a six.

Following his departure, B-Love Kandy once again went into defensive mode and slipped to 92/5 in 13 overs when Asif came out to bat.

The hard-hitting batter glimmered a ray of hope for B-Love Kandy with a quickfire cameo but his effort was not enough to steer his side to glory.

He smashed two boundaries and three sixes amid his entertaining 33-run cameo from just 15 deliveries before perishing in the 18th over.

B-Love Kandy then needed 26 runs off the last two overs with three wickets in hand but they lacked the firepower to score at a rapid pace after Asif’s dismissal.

Colombo Strikers’ bowlers held their nerves calm to lead their side to a close victory over B-Love Kandy.

Jeffrey Vandersay and Matheesha Pathirana led the bowling attack for the Strikers with two wickets each while Chamika Karunaratne, Iftikhar Ahmed and Naseem Shah had one each to their name.

READ: Kasun Rajitha powers Galle Titans to thump Jaffna Kings in LPL

Haris blitz sinks Jaffna Kings as B-Love Kandy storm into LPL playoffs

COLOMBO: Mohammad Haris’s swashbuckling 81-run knock powered B-Love Kandy into the Lanka Premier League (LPL) playoffs with a thrilling eight-run victory over Jaffna Kings on Saturday.

With LPL 2023 playoffs berth at stake, B-Love Kandy put on an all-round show to edge holders Jaffna Kings by eight runs, thanks to a berserk 81-run knock by Haris and Angelo Mathews’s 3/10.

Opting to bat first, B-Love Kandy piled up a commendable total of 178/8 in 20 overs with wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Haris leading the way with a brilliant knock.

The opening batter dominated the Kings’ bowlers right from the start with the belligerent hitting before finally perishing in the 15th over.

Haris smashed 10 boundaries and two sixes on his way to top score for B-Love Kandy with a 51-ball 81.

Mohammad Haris’s opening partner Fakhar Zaman and veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews recorded the next best scores for B-Love Kandy, scoring 22 each.

Nuwan Thusara led the bowling attack for the Kings with 3/31, followed by two wickets each from Dunith Wellalage and Dilshan Madushanka.

Set to chase a daunting 179-run target, the Kings came up just eight runs short as they could accumulate 170/6 in the allotted overs despite Shoaib Malik’s gutsy half-century.

The Kings got off to a dismal start to the pursuit as they lost three wickets in quick succession.

Coming out to bat with his side reeling at 16/3 in the fifth, Shoaib Malik knitted an anchoring 35-run partnership with Chris Lynn, who could score 27 off 26 deliveries.

Malik was then joined by hard-hitting batter David Miller, who glimmered a ray of hope for the Kings with a brisk start but could not continue and fell to Isuru Udana in the 13th over.

He scored 24 off 16 deliveries, hitting four boundaries.

Kings’ captain Thisara Perera then joined Malik in the middle and stitched a vital 60-run partnership before Nuwan Pradeep dismissed him in the 18th over.

Perera’s dismissal was a major momentum booster for B-Love Kandy as he was breathing fire amid his brief yet crucial 20-ball 36. His knock featured two boundaries and two sixes.

The Kings missed the firepower in the death overs despite Shoaib Malik being set at the crease and they eventually fell a mere eight runs short of pulling a thrilling victory.

Malik remained unbeaten with his 37-ball 55, laced up with four boundaries and a six.

Angelo Mathews led the bowling attack for B-Love Kandy with 3/10 in his three overs while Pradeep had two to his name.

A narrow nine-run victory over Jaffna Kings propelled B-Love Kandy to book their spot in the LPL 2023 playoffs as they sit at the second position with eight points in six matches.

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Fernando-inspired Dambulla Aura sink Galle Titans in LPL

COLOMBO: Avishka Fernando played a swashbuckling 70-run knock in the run chase and powered Dambulla Aura to a comfortable seven-wicket victory over Galle Titans in the 14th match of the Lanka Premier League (LPL).

Set to chase a modest 134, Dambulla Aura comfortably amassed the total for the loss of just three wickets and 14 balls to spare, thanks to Fernando’s unbeaten and match-winning knock.

Avishka Fernando alongside his captain Kusal Mendis scripted a decent start to the run chase as the pair added 47 runs before the latter perished in the eighth over.

Mendis played a cautious 18-run knock from 24 balls, hitting a boundary.

Fernando spearheaded Aura’s pursuit single-handedly and received meagre support from Sadeera Samarawickrama (25), Kusal Perera (5) and Dhananjaya de Silva (6*).

The right-handed opener carried his bat all the way through and top-scored for the Aura with a 49-ball 70 which featured three boundaries and three sixes.

Lahiru Kumara led the bowling attack for the Titans with 2/31 while Shakib Al Hasan picked one.

Put into bat first in the 14th match of the ongoing LPL, the Galle Titans’ batting lineup failed to put a defendable total on the board as a combined bowling effort from Dambulla Aura restricted them to 133/9 in 20 overs.

Titans’ captain Dasun Shanaka waged a lone battle with a counter-attacking knock. He top-scored for his side with a 26-ball 36, smashing five boundaries before Hasan Ali got rid of him in the 19th over.

Besides him, Chad Bowes (22), Tim Seifert (15), Shakib Al Hasan (13) and Sohan de Livera (12) were the other notable run-getters.

The rest, however, failed to make it into the double figures.

A dominant seven-wicket victory propelled Dambulla Aura to the top of the LPL standings with eighth points in six matches while Galle Titans remained at the bottom with four points in as many matches.

The leaders next face fourth-placed Colombo Strikers in Saturday’s second fixture while the Titans will square off against defending champions Jaffna Kings on Sunday.

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Madushka, bowlers propel Jaffna Kings to sink Colombo Strikers in LPL

PALLEKELE: A collective effort from the bowlers, followed by Nishan Madushka’s 46-run knock, propelled Jaffna Kings to thump Colombo Strikers by six wickets in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) on Tuesday.

Contrary to the tradition in the LPL 2023, Colombo Strikers’ captain Babar Azam won the toss and elected to bat first.

Pathum Nissanka and Babar Azam, who scored a hundred in the last game, started things on a high with a solid opening partnership of 57 runs in seven overs, before the former fell prey to Wellalage. Nissanka’s 36 off 27 was laced with seven boundaries.

Babar Azam soon followed him as he was caught by David Miller off Madushanka at backward point, after scoring 24 off 21 balls. Nuwanidu Fernando (2) also fell in the same over, thanks to a brilliant catch by Maheesh Theekshana at deep square leg.

Wellalage castled Iftikhar Ahmed (2) in the next over, who was playing his first game of LPL, after leading Surrey Jaguars to the final of the recently concluded GT20 Canada.

Lahiru Udara and Mohammad Nawaz, then knitted a brief partnership of 30 runs before Udara holed one back to Theekshana. He scored a cautious 29 off 25 with the help of two boundaries and one six.

Nawaz and Chamika Karunaratne’s 40-run stand for the sixth wicket saw the Strikers’ score reach 139 before Nawaz departed in the 19th over. He scored 27 runs off 21 deliveries.

Karunaratne, on the other hand, carried his bat all the way through with an unbeaten 21 and led the Strikers to finish at 146/8 in 20 overs.

Dunith Wellalage and Dilshan Madushanka spearheaded Jaffna Kings’ bowling charge, taking two wickets each,  while Theekshana, Thushara and Shoaib Malik chipped in with one wicket each.

The Kings had a flying start to the chase, as they quickly raced to 50 runs in the fifth over.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the core aggressor of the opening stand as he scored 39 runs off 21 balls at a strike rate of 185 before falling to Pathirana in the sixth over. His innings featured three boundaries and as many sixes.

Gurbaz’s opening partner Dilshan Madushanka, who had a cautious start to his knock as he anchored amid Gurbaz’s onslaught, shifted gears after the former’s dismissal.

He partnered with Charith Asalanka (12) for a 39-run partnership, while added 30 runs for the third wicket with captain Thisara Perera (17).

With Madushka and Perera firm on the crease, it appeared to be a straightforward pursuit for the Kings, requiring 20 runs off eight overs but Naseem Shah caused a stir as he dismissed both set batters in his third over.

Madushka top-scored with 46 off 32 deliveries, courtesy of three boundaries and three sixes.

Towhid Hridoy gave the final touch to an already illustrated run-chase as he finished the game with a four off Naseem to guide Jaffna Kings to a dominant six-wicket win. He scored 14 runs off nine balls with the help of three boundaries.

Naseem picked two wickets for Strikers, while Pathirana and Sandakan contributed with one wicket each.

Jaffna Kings will now face B-Love Kandy on August 12 in the 15th match of the LPL, while Colombo Strikers will face Dambulla Aura in the 16th game on the same day.

READ: Hasaranga powers B-Love Kandy to thrash Galle Titans in LPL

Hasaranga powers B-Love Kandy to thrash Galle Titans in LPL

Pallekele: Wanindu Hasaranga’s all-round exploits guided B-Love Kandy to a thumping 89-run victory against Galle Titans in the 12th game of the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL).

Hasaranga, who has been in tremendous form in LPL this year, played a blitzing knock of 65 off 27, before decimating Galle Titans’ batting lineup with figures of 4-17.

Galle Titans captain Dasun Shanaka opted to bowl first after winning the toss. They drew first blood as Richard Ngarava sent Mohammad Haris back to the dugout.

However, they failed to capitalize on the early damage as Fakhar Zaman and Dinesh Chandimal stitched a solid 49-run partnership before the latter was removed by Tabraiz Shamsi with 75 runs on the board in nine overs.

Zaman was joined by Angelo Mathews in the middle and cautiously, while the opener anchored the innings before hitting a four and six off successive deliveries of Tabraiz Shamsi to bolster the total.

He added three more runs to his tally before falling to a magnificent catch at long-on by Ngarava off Lahiru Samarakoon. Zaman’s 35-ball 45 featured three boundaries and two sixes.

The scoreboard read 103-3 in 12.1 overs when Hasaranga came out to bat, fancying his match-winning half-century (52* off 22) against Jaffna Kings in the last match.

Hasaranga dominated the Titans’ bowlers and soon raced to 38 off 15 before Angelo Mathews joined the party with a six off Kasun Rajitha. Together, they stitched a vital partnership of 87 off 38 balls.

The destructive partnership was broken when Mathews was removed at a total of 190 by Samarakoon, courtesy of a brilliant catch by Kasun Rajitha. Mathews scored a 23-ball 40, featuring three boundaries and two sixes.

Hasaranga was still on the crease, eyeing a 200-run landmark, but he was caught at mid-wicket by Shevon Daniel off Rajitha. His blistering knock of 64 off 27 was laced with nine boundaries and two sixes.

Isuru Udana scored two off the next delivery to reach the 200-run mark, the first of LPL 2023, before the innings ended at 203 with the loss of five wickets.

Lahiru Samarakoon picked two wickets for 31 runs, while Shamsi, Rajitha and Ngarava picked one apiece.

Galle Titans started the mammoth chase on a high as Lasith Croospulle scored 11 runs off the first over, bowled by Mathews.

However, Mujeeb Ur Rahman cut their flying start short by removing Shevon Daniel (0) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (5) in his successive overs.

Lasith Croospulle continued to attack from the other end, before being cleaned up by Hasaranga in his first over. Croospulle played a quick cameo of 27 off 17.

Wanindu Hasaranga then removed a struggling Shakib Al Hasan (11 off 12), which reduced Galle Titans to 47-6 in the ninth over.

Ashan Priyanjan and Lahiru Samarakoon then formed a solid partnership of 62 off 45 balls, however, the mounting required run rate maintained pressure on both batters.

Subsequently, the asking run rate got the better of both batters, sent packing by Nuwan Pradeep in the span of three deliveries, leaving Titans requiring 93 runs from four overs with two wickets in hand.

Hasaranga then picked the final two wickets off consecutive deliveries in the next over to seal a dominant triumph for B-Love Kandy.

Samarakoon top-scored for the Titans with 36 off 25 balls, hitting one boundary and four sixes.

Wanindu Hasaranga finished with figures of four wickets for 17 runs, while Pradeep picked up three wickets.

The victory helped B-Love Kandy improve their net-run rate and jump to the top of the table in LPL 2023, while Galle Titans sank to the bottom.

Galle Titans will face Dambulla Aura in their next game on August 11, while B-Love Kandy will square off against holders Jaffna Kings on August 12.

READ: Hasan eclipses Malik’s heroics as Dambulla Aura edge Jaffna Kings in LPL

Wellalage four-fer powers Jaffna Kings to sink Galle Titans in LPL

PALLEKELE: Dunith Wellalage annihilated Galle Titans with a four-fer before Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s half-century led Jaffna Kings to a dominant eight victory in the seventh match of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023.

Chasing a modest 118, the Kings comfortably chased down the total for the loss of just two wickets and 44 balls to spare, thanks to a brisk half-century by Gurbaz.

The Kings lost their first wicket in the pursuit on 17 with Shamyl Hussain returning to the hut for five off 10 balls.

Right-handed batter Gurbaz was joined by Towhid Hridoy and the pair knitted an anchoring 83-run partnership for the second wicket.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz contributed 46 runs in the partnership and over the course of the second-wicket stand brought up a brilliant half-century.

The duo appeared to be in complete command to steer the Kings over the line before Shakib Al Hasan struck again to get rid of Gurbaz with the Kings still requiring 18 for victory off 52 balls.

The wicketkeeper batter struck three boundaries and five sixes on his way to top score for the Kings with a 39-ball 54.

Hridoy and David Miller then made sure there were no hiccups in the run-chase and took the Kings home in the 13th over.

After a late blitz, Hridoy remained unbeaten with a 23-ball 44 which featured two boundaries and four sixes.

Earlier, after opting to bat first in a bid to get behold of their top LPL spot, Galle Titans managed to score 120 for nine in 20 overs after left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage wreaked havoc with a four-fer.

For the Titans, skipper Dasun Shanaka top-scored with a cautious 24-ball 30, laced up with two boundaries and two sixes.

The next notable run-getters for the Titans were openers Shevon Daniel (25) and Lasith Croospulle (19).

Besides Wellalage, Nandre Burger picked two wickets while Charith Asalanka and Maheesh Theekshana made one scalp each.

The dominant eight-victory propelled holders Jaffna Kings to pip Galle Titans at the top of the LPL standings. Both teams have four points after three matches.

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Chandimal, Mujeeb lead B-Love Kandy to first victory in LPL 2023

PALLEKELE: Mujeeb Ur Rahman’s astonishing figures of 2/17 followed by Dinesh Chandimal’s 48 bolstered B-Love Kandy to claim their maiden victory in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023.

Bottom-ranked B-Love Kandy put on all-round show to beat second-placed Dambulla Aura by seven wickets and nine balls to spare.

B-Love Kandy openers Fakhar Zaman and Dinesh Chandimal scripted a solid start for the pursuit with a magnificent 67-run partnership.

Fakhar, who batted cautiously for his 26-ball 28, which featured five boundaries, was the first to fall when he chipped one back to Dhananjaya de Silva in the eighth over.

Chandimal then put on a brief 30-run partnership with Kamindu Mendis before he got run out with B-Love Kandy still requiring 58 for victory off 53 balls.

He smashed seven boundaries on his way to top score for B-Love Kandy with a 29-ball 48.

Following Mendis’s dismissal in the 16th over, Mathews was joined by explosive batter Asif Ali and the pair made sure there were no hiccups in the run-chase and took B-Love Kandy home in the 19th over.

The pair put on an unbeaten 31-run partnership, dominated by Ali, who scored a quickfire 16 off eight while Mathews remained unbeaten on a 20-ball 28.

Hayden Kerr and Dhananjaya de Silva could pick up a wicket for Dambulla Aura.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Dambulla Aura could score 156/6 in 20 overs despite Dhananjaya de Silva’s quick half-century.

The right-handed batter smashed five boundaries and three sixes and top-scored for the Aura with a 39-ball 61.

The next notable run-getters for the Aura were Avishka Fernando (32) and Alex Ross (21) while the rest made meagre contributions.

Mujeeb Ur Rahman and Isuru Udana led the bowling attack for B-Love Kandy with two wickets each while Mohammad Hasnain and Dushmantha Chameera made one scalp apiece.

Despite a convincing seven-wicket victory, B-Love Kandy remained at the bottom in the LPL 2023 standings while Dambulla Aura managed to get behold of their second position.

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LPL: Tim Seifert goes berserk at B-Love Kandy as Galle Titans prevail

COLOMBO: Tim Seifert’s quickfire 74-run knock led Galle Titans to a thumping 83-run victory over B-Love Kandy in the fifth match of the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023.

Opting to bat first, Galle Titans piled up a massive total of 180/5 on the board with Seifert leading the charge with a brisk half-century.

The Titans got off to a cautious start to their innings as they were 50/2 in 8.3 Overs when Seifert walked out into the middle.

The wicketkeeper batter turned the game on its head with belligerent hitting and put his side in command with a brilliant 95-run partnership with Shakib Al Hasan.

Seifert dominated the opposition bowlers with belligerent hitting while Shakib held his ground firm with a sensible 21-ball 30 before a brilliant effort in the deep by Thanuka Dabare saw the end of his sensible knock.

Tim Seifert soon followed Shakib back to the dugout in the next over as Mohammad Hasnain’s short-pitched delivery got the better of him.

He smashed five boundaries and as many sixes on his way to a 39-ball 74.

Following his departure, skipper Dasun Shanaka and Lahiru Samarakoon gave final touches to the Titans’ batting expedition as they added 15 runs off the last nine deliveries.

For B-Love Kandy, Mohammad Hasnain, Wanindu Hasaranga and Aamer Jamal could pick up a wicket.

B-Love Kandy’s batters put on a dismal show in response to the Titans’ 181 and bundled out for a paltry 97.

Middle-order batter Ashen Bandara offered brief retaliation against a dominant Titans’ bowling attack with a 19-ball 27 which included two boundaries.

The next best scores for B-Love Kandy were Isuru Udana (16) and Thaunka Dabare (12) while the rest failed to make it into the double digits.

With a thumping 83-run victory, Galle Titans skyrocketed to the top of the LPL standings with four points in two matches while B-Love Kandy sank to the bottom.

READ: Fernando, bowlers power Dambulla Aura to thump Jaffna Kings in LPL