LPL 2024 Archives

All-round Isuru Udana powers Galle Marvels to victory over Colombo Strikers

PALLEKELE: Isuru Udana scored a quick-fire half-century, followed by two wickets to lead Galle Marvels to a narrow victory against Colombo Strikers in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024 clash here on Wednesday.

Galle Marvels, while defending 179, removed opening batter Shevon Daniel (7) in the third over. Muhammad Waseem joined Rahmanullah Gurbaz and scored 16 off 9 before falling Maheesh Theekshana.

Meanwhile, Gurbaz, who scored a 17-ball 29, was castled by Zahoor Khan on the last ball of the powerplay with 57 runs on the board.

Glenn Phillips (26) then added 24 and 25 runs with Sadeera Samarawickrama (16) and Thisara Perera (18) respectively to keep his side in the hunt.

However, Galle Marvels’ bowler kept picking wickets at regular intervals to keep things under control.

Dunith Wellalage came out to bat with 63 required off 33 and he struck two boundaries off his first two balls off Sahan Arachchige.

He waged a lone war and played a quick 45-run knock from 26 balls with the help of five boundaries and two sixes before falling on the final ball of the innings, thus losing by seven runs.

Udana bowled the final over, defending 11 runs and returning with bowling figures of 2-34. Meanwhile, Arachchige and Theekshana also claimed two wickets each.

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Earlier, Niroshan Dickwella gave Galle Marvels a flying start with a one-sided opening partnership of 71 runs with Alex Hales (14).

However, they soon slipped to 77-3 as Binura Fernando removed Hales, while Dickwella fell prey to Shadab Khan after scoring an 18-ball 50 with six boundaries and three sixes.

Shadab Khan dismissed Janith Liyanage (2) and Tim Seifert (12) in his next over to reduce Galle Marvels to 86-5.

Arachchige and Udana joined hands after another wicket to construct a 79-run stand for the seventh wicket.

They pushed the team’s total to 173 before Matheesha Pathirana sent Arachchige back after he had scored 35 off 27.

Udana top-scored with 52 runs from 34 balls with five boundaries and three sixes. Fernando picked the wicket of Udana, followed by a run-out and Zahoor Khan’s wicket to bundle the Marvels at 179 in 20 overs.

Shadab Khan topped the wicket-takers’ chart with four wickets, while Fernando claimed three.

Galle Marvels solidified their position at the top of the LPL 2024 points table with two victories in as many games, while Colombo Strikers are sitting in the second position.

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Kusal Perera’s century in vain as Jaffna Kings edge past Dambulla Sixers

PALLEKELE: Kusal Perera’s unbeaten century went in vain as Avishka Fernando and Charith Asalanka scored quick half-centuries to guide Jaffna Kings to a thrilling victory over Dambulla Sixers in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024 clash here on Wednesday.

Jaffna Kings registered their first victory in the LPL 2024 and jumped to the second spot in the points table with two points from two games. Meanwhile, the Dambulla Sixers are lying at the bottom of the points table with two losses in two games.

Set to chase 192, Pathum Nissanka (27) gave Jaffna Kings a stable start with a 30-run opening stand with Kusal Mendis (6).

However, Dambulla Sixers halted their progress with three wickets in quick succession, reducing the Kings to 36-3 in 5.2 overs.

Avishka Fernando and Charith Asalanka then joined hands to take their team out of trouble with a fiery partnership of 134 runs for the fourth wicket in only 66 balls.

Fernando wreaked havoc against Dambulla Sixers’ bowlers, while Asalanka played an anchor role before switching gears in the 15th over when he struck four consecutive sixes off Nimesh Vimukthi.

Mustafizur Rahman broke the partnership in the 17th over as he removed Asalanka, who scored a 36-ball 50, laced with for boundaries and four sixes.

Fernando also followed suit in the next over as Nuwan Thushara after scoring 80 runs from 34 balls with the help of seven boundaries and six sixes.

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With 15 required off two overs, Jaffna Kings chased the target on the final ball with Fabian Allen hitting a six off Vimukthi.

For the Sixers, Thushara and Rahman claimed two wickets each, while Mohammad Nabi bagged one.

Earlier, Dambulla Sixers were invited to bat first and lost opening batter Danushka Gunathilaka (9) in the fourth over with 18 runs on the board.

However, the Kings had to wait for more than ten overs for the second wicket as Kusal Perera and Nuwanidu Fernando raised a solid partnership of 108 runs.

Perera dominated the partnership with 64 runs from 29 balls, while Fernando scored an anchoring 40 off 35 balls before falling to Dhananjaya de Silva.

Mark Chapman joined Perera and both batters continued at the same pace to help their team finish at 191-2 in their allocated 20 overs.

Perera scored his maiden century in T20 cricket as he remained unbeaten at 102 from 52 balls, featuring ten boundaries and five sixes. Meanwhile, Chapman scored 33* off 23 with four boundaries, including one six.

Dhananjaya de Silva remained the sole wicket-taker for Jaffna Kings with two wickets.

READ: Hardik Pandya becomes first Indian to top T20I All-Rounder Rankings

Shadab Khan lights up LPL 2024 with a hat-trick

Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan made his Lanka Premier League (LPL) debut memorable by claiming a hat-trick in the third fixture of the ongoing fifth edition.

Shadab, who is representing Colombo Strikers in LPL 2024, decimated Kandy Falcons with ruthless bowling.

The all-rounder returned magnificent bowling figures of 4/22 including a hat-trick.

He achieved the feat in the 15th over of the Falcons’ innings and turned the game on its head as the home side slipped from 140/5 to 147 all out.

Shadab Khan dismissed Falcons’ captain and set-batter Wanindu Hasaranga on the fourth delivery of his last over.

Hasaranga looked to go for a big shot against Shadab but mistimed it towards the long-on fielder Muhammad Waseem, who took a great running catch diving forward.

He then dismissed compatriot Agha Salman on the next delivery with a perfectly executed leg-break that breached the batter’s defence and hit the timber.

Coming out to face the hat-trick ball was Pavan Rathnayake, who cautiously tried to work the ball towards the onside but failed to judge the googly and was trapped in front.

Following the game, Khan took to Instagram where he posted his batting and bowling figures.

“God is great,” he wrote in the caption.

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A post shared by Shadab Khan (@shadab0800)

Following Shadab Khan’s hat-trick, Dunith Wellalage, who was equally exceptional, took two wickets in the next over to take the Strikers home.

Both Shadab and Wellalage bagged four wickets each while Glenn Phillips and Binura Fernando chipped in with a wicket apiece as Colombo Strikers booked Kandy Falcons on 147 to kick off their LPL 2024 with a victory.

Put into bat first, the Strikers registered a massive total of 198/7 on the board, courtesy of a combined effort from their batters.

Leading the way was wicketkeeper batter Sadeera Samarawickrama, who played a blazing knock of 48, coming off on 26 balls with the help of seven fours and a six.

Thisara Perera (38 off 30) and Shadab Khan (20 off 17) played anchoring knocks before Chamika Karunaratne bolstered the total with late fireworks.

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Shadab wreaks havoc as Strikers crush Falcons in LPL

PALLEKELE: Shadab Khan decimated Kandy Falcons with a hat-trick and led Colombo Strikers to a thumping 51-run victory in the third match of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024 here on Tuesday.

The Falcons were on course to chase down the 199-run target as they were 140/5 in 14 overs with skipper Wanindu Hasaranga at the crease.

But Shadab Khan turned the game on its head with a hat-trick as the Falcons were reduced to 146/8 at the end of the 15th over.

Dunith Wellalage, who was equally exceptional, took two wickets in the next over to take the Strikers home.

In-form batter Dinesh Chandimal once again top-scored for the Falcons as he scored 38 off 26 deliveries.

Besides him, skipper Hasaranga (25), Angelo Mathews (25) and Andre Fletcher (24) made notable contributions while the rest of the Falcons’ batters failed to make it into the double figures.

Put into bat first, the Strikers registered a massive total of 198/7 on the board, courtesy of a combined effort from their batters.

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Leading the way was wicketkeeper batter Sadeera Samarawickrama, who played a blazing knock of 48, coming off on 26 balls with the help of seven fours and a six.

Samarawickrama was supported in the act by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) international Muhammad Waseem as together they raised a quickfire 78-run partnership for the third wicket.

Waseem scored an 18-ball 32, peppered with two fours and two sixes.

Thisara Perera (38 off 30) and Shadab Khan (20 off 17) played anchoring knocks before Chamika Karunaratne bolstered the total with late fireworks.

Karunaratne smashed two fours and two sixes on his way to an unbeaten 25 off 10.

For the Falcons, Hasaranga and Kasun Rajitha picked two wickets each while Dasun Shanaka, Dushmantha Chameera and Agha Salman made one scalp apiece.

The resounding 51-run victory took Colombo Strikers to the top of the LPL 2024 standings with two points while Kandy Falcons remained third with as many points.

READ: “ICC’s duty to ensure India’s participation in Champions Trophy”

LPL 2024: Galle Marvels edge Jaffna Kings in last-ball thriller

PALLEKELE: Zahoor Khan’s brilliant bowling figures of 3/34, followed by Alex Hales’ anchoring half-century powered Galle Marvels to down Jaffna Kings in a last-ball Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024 thriller here on Tuesday.

Set to chase 178, Sahan Arachchige hit the winning runs for the Marvels on the final delivery when he smashed Asitha Fernando for a four under pressure.

Experienced openers Alex Hales and Niroshan Dickwella earlier gave the Marvels a solid start, putting together 66 before the latter departed on the first delivery of the eighth over after a quickfire knock.

Dickwella remained a notable run-getter for the Marvels with a 27-ball 47, laced up with eight boundaries and a six.

Hales then put on a one-sided partnership with Tim Seifert (10), which yielded 44 runs before both perished in quick succession with the scoreboard reading 127/3 in 15 overs.

Alex Hales remained the top-scorer for the Marvels with 65 off 47 balls, hitting seven boundaries and two sixes.

Later, Janith Liyanage’s 25-run cameo, followed by vital contributions from Dwaine Pretorius (9*) and Sahan Arachchige (5*), which sealed the deal for the Marvels.

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Fabian Allen and Asitha Fernando bagged two wickets each for the Kings while Dhananjaya de Silva chipped in with a wicket.

Opting to bat first, Jaffna Kings registered 177/7, courtesy of Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando’s half-centuries.

The duo recorded an anchoring 81-run partnership for the second wicket to recover the Kings from a shaky start.

Nissanka walked back in the 13th over after 33-ball 51 which featured six fours and two sixes while Fernando fell in the 17th over after top-scoring for the Kings with 59 off 48.

Later, skipper Charith Assalanka bolstered the Kings’ total with a brisk cameo. He hit three fours and two sixes on his way to a 15-ball 33.

Zahoor Khan led the bowling charge for the Marvels with three wickets, followed by Isuru Udana and Pretorius, who claimed two each.

The five-wicket victory took Galle Marvels to the second in the LPL 2024 standings while Jaffna Kings claimed the third spot.

READ: All-round Shanaka propels Falcons to sink Sixers in LPL 2024 opener

All-round Shanaka propels Falcons to sink Sixers in LPL 2024 opener

PALLEKELE: Dasun Shanaka backed brilliant bowling figures of 3/20 with a quickfire knock to lead Kandy Falcons to a resounding victory over Dambulla Sixers in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024 opener here on Monday.

Set to chase 180, the Falcons amassed 183/4 in 17.2 overs, courtesy of Dinesh Chandimal’s anchoring half-century, followed by Shanaka’s fireworks.

The home side, however, had a shaky start to the pursuit as they were reduced to 26/2 in 3.1 overs after opener Andre Fletcher (0) and wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Haris (5) perished cheaply.

Following the early hiccup, Chandimal knitted an important partnership for the third wicket with Kamindu Mendis.

The duo added 56 runs to the total until Chamindu Wickramasinghe dismissed Mendis in the 10th over.

Mendis scored 27 off 22 deliveries, laced up with four boundaries.

Chandimal was then involved in yet another crucial partnership for Kandy Falcons when he partnered with Angelo Mathews to add 29 runs for the fourth wicket before finally perishing in the 13th over.

Dinesh Chandimal remained the top-scorer for the Falcons with 40-ball 65 which included six fours and three sixes.

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His dismissal did not bother the Falcons as much as Shanaka charged on the Sixers’ bowlers from the word go and steered his side to glory in the 18th over.

Shanaka scored a blistering 46 off 15 deliveries with the help of three fours and five sixes while Mathews offered a supporting hand with a 20-ball 37.

Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Akila Dhananjaya, Mustafizur Rahman and Nuwan Thushara picked one wicket apiece for the Sixers.

Earlier, after being sent into bat first, Dambulla Sixers registered 179/4 on the board at the back of Mark Chapman’s 91.

The Sixers had a disastrous start to their innings as they lost their top four batters inside five overs with just 25 runs on the board.

Chapman and Wickramasinghe then launched an astounding recovery with an unbeaten 154-run partnership and took their side to a competitive total.

Mark Chapman top-scored for the Sixers with 91 in 61 balls, peppered with eight fours and four sixes while Wickramasinghe made a 42-ball 62, hitting four fours and three sixes.

Dasun Shanaka led the bowling attack for the Falcons with three wickets while Mohammad Hasnain took one.

The six-wicket victory put Kandy Falcons to the top of the LPL 2024 standings while Dambulla Sixers sank to the bottom.

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Nine Pakistan cricketers roped in for LPL 2024

COLOMBO: A total of nine Pakistan players were roped in for the upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024 after the player auction took place here on Tuesday.

The fifth edition of the LPL will run from July 1 to 21 and will feature five teams competing for the silverware.

According to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), more than 500 players from 24 cricket-playing nations, including full International Cricket Council (ICC) member nations, registered for the player auction in a bid to get picked into one of the five teams for the LPL 2024.

Notably, before the auction took place, some of Pakistan’s notable cricketers had already found new homes in the LPL 2024. Leading the charge is the formidable Pakistan all-rounder, Shadab Khan, who will be representing Colombo Strikers.

Besides him, wicketkeeper batter Mohammad Haris was picked by defending champions B-Love Kandy for the five-team tournament.

In the auction, however, right-arm pacer Mohammad Wasim Jr was signed by Colombo Strikers for $20,000 while Dambulla Thunders signed Iftikhar Ahmed and Haider Ali for $50,000 and $25,000 respectively.

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Defending champions B-Love Kandy backed their overseas Pakistan signings by roping in Azam Khan, Mohammad Hasnain, Mohammad Ali and Salman Ali Agha.

Pakistan Players to participate in LPL 2024

B-Love Kandy: Mohammad Haris, Mohammad Hasnain, Azam Khan, Mohammad Ali, Salman Ali Agha.

Colombo Strikers: Shadab Khan and Mohammad Wasim Jr.

Dambulla Thunders: Iftikhar Ahmed and Haider Ali

For the unversed, the LPL 2024 will be held across three venues Colombo, Dambulla, and Kandy.

The fifth edition of Sri Lanka’s marquee league will continue to feature five teams B-Love Kandy, Dambulla Thunders, Jaffna Kings, Colombo Strikers and Galle Marvels.

All the five participating teams will play each other twice in the league stage, consisting of 20 matches.

The top four teams after the league stage will then advance to the playoffs.

The first three editions of the LPL were won by the team bearing the name Jaffna (Stallions in the inaugural season and Kings in the next two editions), all captained by Thisara Perera.

The fourth edition of the LPL saw Wanindu Hasaranga-led B-Love Kandy winning their maiden title by defeating Dambulla Aura in the final.

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Naseem, Iftikhar among 500 overseas players registered for LPL 2024

COLOMBO: The upcoming Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024 drew massive interest from top cricketers as over 500 overseas cricketers registered for the auction.

According to Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC), top players from 24 cricket-playing nations, including full International Cricket Council (ICC) member nations, have registered for the upcoming player auction in a bid to get picked into one of the five teams for the LPL 2024.

The notable overseas players registered for the auction include Tamim Iqbal, Tim Southee, Rassie Van Der Dussen, Jimmy Neesham, Mushfiqur Rahim, Reeza Hendricks, Rilee Rossouw, Shai Hope, Taskin Ahmed, Lungi Ngidi, Naseem Shah, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Najmul Hossain Shanto, Colin Munro, Ish Sodhi, Mark Chapman, Jason Behrendorff, Andre Fletcher, Oshane Thomas, Keemo Paul, and Fabian Allen.

Besides them, Usman Khawaja, Tabraiz Shamsi, Evin Lewis, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Noor Ahmad, Reece Topley, Iftikhar Ahmad, Mohammad Nawaz, Gulbadin Naib, and Ibrahim Zadran are also among the top players.

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For the unversed, the LPL 2024 will run from July 1st to 21st and will be held across three venues Colombo, Dambulla, and Kandy.

The fifth edition of Sri Lanka’s marquee league will continue to feature five teams B-Love Kandy, Dambulla Aura, Jaffna Kings, Colombo Strikers and Galle Titans.

All the five participating teams will play each other twice in the league stage, consisting of 20 matches.

The top four teams after the league stage will then advance to the playoffs.

The first three editions of the LPL were won by the team bearing the name Jaffna (Stallions in the inaugural season and Kings in the next two editions), all captained by Thisara Perera.

The fourth edition of the LPL saw Wanindu Hasaranga-led B-Love Kandy winning their maiden title by defeating Dambulla Aura in the final.

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