Tag: LPL

PALLEKELE: Nuwanidu Fernando’s unbeaten half-century failed to trump Kusal Mendis’s 46-ball 87 as Dambulla Aura edged Colombo Strikers by 10 runs in the eighth match of the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023.

In a high-scoring game, Colombo Strikers fell 10 runs short of the 193-run target. They needed 31 runs off the final over but managed to score only 20.

Nuwanidu Fernando remained not out at 56 off 39 deliveries, while his partner Chamika Karunaratne scored 20 off seven balls. Noor Ahmed picked two wickets, while Hayden Kerr and Dhananjaya de Silva picked one wicket each.

After winning the toss, Colombo Strikers opted to bowl first, they inflicted early damage on Dambulla Aura in the form of Avishka Fernando’s wicket.

However, what followed that wicket was a clinical partnership between captain Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama. They added 120 runs for the second wicket.

Kusal Mendis scored 87 off 46 before falling to Naseem Shah, while Samarawickrama scored 59 runs from 35 balls as both fell in successive overs.

The Aura appeared to be in complete control to breach the 200-run landmark but a tight death bowling from Colombo Strikers restricted them to 192/6.

Matheesha Pathirana picked three wickets, while Naseem Shah bagged two wickets. Chamika Karunaratne gave 55 for his single wicket, whereas, Mohammad Nawaz conceded 37 runs off his three overs without any wicket.

Colombo Strikers got off to a poor start to the run chase as they lost their captain Niroshan Dickwella early with just 17 runs on the board.

Babar Azam was then joined by Pathum Nissanka and the pair knitted an anchoring 62-run partnership for the second wicket which lasted when the former was trapped leg-before wicket by Noor Ahmad.

He smashed seven boundaries amid his 24-ball 41.

Nissanka, who could contribute a mere 19 amid his second-wicket stand with Babar, failed to switch gears and finally perished in the 13th over.

He scored a cautious 22 off 28 deliveries, hitting one boundary and a six.

Following his departure, Fernando glimmered a ray of hope for the Strikers to pull off the run chase with belligerent hitting but his efforts came up as his side succumbed to a 10-run defeat.

His unbeaten 56-run knock featured four boundaries and as many sixes.

Noor Ahmad led the bowling attack for the Aura with 2/34 followed by Dhananjaya de Silva and Hayden Kerr picking up one wicket apiece.

Dambulla Aura will face Jaffna Kings in their next LPL game, while Colombo Strikers will battle against Galle Titans. Both games will be played on August 7.

READ MORE: 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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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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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

A combined effort from the bowlers, followed by Avishka Fernando’s brisk half-century propelled Dambulla Aura to thump holders Jaffna Kings by eight wickets in the fourth match of the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL).

Set to chase a modest 130, Dambulla Aura comfortably accumulated 132/2 in response with 22 balls to spare.

Aura’s opener Avishka Fernando spearheaded the run chase with a quick half-century.

Aura openers Fernando and Kusal Mendis scripted a solid start to pursuit as they added 76 runs in just eight overs.

The vital opening partnership was dominated majorly by Fernando, who perished briefly after amassing his half-century.

He remained the top-scorer for the Aura with a 32-ball 52 which featured six boundaries and three sixes.

The Aura endured another blow in the next over when Kusal Mendis miscued one off Dunith Wellalage and the ball went straight to Thisara Perera at deep midwicket. He scored an anchoring 29 from 23 deliveries, laced with four boundaries and a six.

Following back-to-back dismissals, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Kusal Perera knitted an unbeaten 47-run partnership and steered Aura to their first victory in the ongoing edition of the LPL.

Perera smashed three boundaries and two sixes on his way to an unbeaten 22-ball 34 while Samarawickrama scored 12 not out.

For the Kings, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Wellalage could pick up a wicket.

Opting to bat first, the defending LPL champions Jaffna Kings’ batting lineup faltered and could only pile 129/7 in the allotted 20 overs despite Charith Asalanka’s half-century.

Asalanka top-scored for the Kings with a cautious knock. His 52-ball 56 featured five boundaries.

Towhid Hridoy (24) was the other notable run-getter for the Kings while the rest of their batters failed to contribute significantly.

Binura Fernando led the bowling attack for the Aura with 2/27, followed by Shahnawaz Dahani, Hayden Kerr, Dhananjaya de Silva and Noor Ahmad picking one wicket apiece.

The convincing eight-wicket victory lifted Dambulla Aura to the top of the LPL standings while Jaffna Kings slipped to the fourth.

READ: Bowlers star as Pakistan Shaheens stun Melbourne Renegades

COLOMBO: Babar Azam’s half-century followed by Naseem Shah’s 2/19 led Colombo Strikers to a comfortable 27-run victory over B-Love Kandy in the third match of the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL).

The victory marked the Colombo Strikers’ first in this edition of the LPL as they recovered from a 21-run defeat in the opening match against defending champions Jaffna Kings.

Opting to bat first, the home side accumulated 157/6 in the allotted 20 overs at the back of an anchoring half-century by Babar Azam.

The Strikers got off to a shaky start to their innings as they lost two wickets inside the powerplay with just 33 runs on the board.

Star batter Babar Azam batted sensibly and knitted an anchoring partnership with Nuwanidu Fernando for the third wicket.

The pair added 60 runs to the total but conceded 55 deliveries in the process and Fernando, consequently, made a desperate effort to go big but ended up handing a straightforward catch to Mohammad Hasnain.

READ: Hridoy-led Jaffna Kings thump Colombo Strikers in LPL opener

He remained the notable run-getter for the Strikers with 28 off 31 deliveries, hitting two boundaries and a six.

Meanwhile, Babar Azam stood his ground firm and stitched Dhananjaya Lakshan (12) before finally perishing in the penultimate over.

He top-scored for the Strikers with a 52-ball 59 which included four boundaries and a six.

Isuru Udana led the bowling attack for the B-Love Kandy with 3/39, followed by Mohammad Hasnain’s 2/27.

In response, B-Love Kandy’s batting lineup failed against a disciplined Strikers’ bowling attack and could only raise 130/8.

The visitors after a dismal start, lost wickets at regular intervals which eventually halted the flow of runs.

Angelo Mathews (25 off 22) remained the top-scorer for B-Love Kandy amid their dismal show with the bat, followed by Sarfaraz Ahmed, who could score an unbeaten 16 from 21 deliveries.

Their maiden victory in this year’s LPL lifted Colombo Strikers to claim the second position in the points table while B-Love Kandy sank to the bottom.

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COLOMBO: Galle Titans claimed a dramatic Super Over win in the second match of the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) against Dambulla Aura on Monday to earn their first victory in the tournament.

The match went to a tie-break decider after both teams chalked up 180 runs in a high-scoring thriller at R Premadasa Stadium here.

Dambulla Aura could make 9/1 off a tight Super Over bowled by pacer Kasun Rajitha before Bhanuka Rajapaksa smashed a four off the first ball of Titans’ response, then sealed victory with a six.

Put into bat first in their LPL campaign opener, the Titans notched up 180/5 in the allotted 20 overs with Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Dasun Shanaka leading the charge.

Rajapaksa scored an anchoring 34-ball 48 which featured five boundaries and two sixes.

Coming out to bat at number six with the Titans at 123/4 in 15 overs, Shanaka played a quickfire knock to bolster his side’s total.

Shanaka scored a swashbuckling 21-ball 42, laced up with two boundaries and four sixes.

Besides the duo of Shanaka and Rajapaksa, opener Shevon Daniel made a notable contribution with a 26-ball 33 up the order.

Shahnawaz Dahani, making his LPL debut, led the bowling attack for the Auras with 2/37, followed by one wicket each for Binura Fernando and Dhananjaya de Silva.

The Aura, in response, also accumulated 180 runs, but for the loss of seven wickets.

The Aura got off to a shaky start, losing two wickets for just two runs in the second over.

Dhananjaya de Silva was then joined by Kusal Perera and the pair stitched a 76-run partnership for the third wicket.

Perera returned back to the hut in the 10th over after scoring 40 off 35 balls, which included four boundaries and two sixes.

The dangerous-looking de Silva got out in the 12th over after scoring 43 off 31 balls, hitting five fours and a six.

The Aura then lost two more wickets in quick succession which halted the flow of runs before Alex Ross glimmered a ray of hope with a scintillating cameo.

The right-handed batter scored a brisk 39 not out off 28 balls with the help of three boundaries and two sixes but fell just one run short of steering his side to glory.

The thrilling Super Over victory lifted Galle Titans to second in the LPL standings while Dambulla Aura remained at fourth.

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COLOMBO: Towhid Hridoy’s half-century, followed by a combined effort from the bowlers led Jaffna Kings to a thumping 21-run victory over Colombo Strikers in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) curtain-raiser on Sunday.

The defending champions Kings scripted a solid start to their LPL campaign with a resounding victory over last edition’s runners-up.

Put into bat first, the Kings registered a commendable total on the board as Towhid Hridoy’s half-century bolstered them to 173/5 in the allotted 20 overs.

Hridoy top-scored for the Kings with a 39-ball 54 which featured four boundaries and a six.

Besides him, Dunith Wellalage (25*), Priyamal Perera (22) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (21) made notable contributions.

Meanwhile, Kings’ skipper Thisara Perera played a crucial came at the death and bolstered his side’s total. He scored 14 from seven balls with the help of three boundaries.

For the Strikers, Naseem Shah, Matheesha Pathirana, Chamika Karunaratne and Lakshan Sandakan struck out a batter each.

Set to chase 174, Babar Azam-led Colombo Strikers’ batting lineup failed and could only raise 152 before bundling out in the final over despite Niroshan Dickwella’s half-century.

The Strikers had a dismal start to the run chase as the home side endured a massive blow in the fourth over with 33 runs on the board as Pakistan captain Babar Azam perished.

Babar could score a mere seven from eight deliveries before falling to Thisara Perera.

Following his dismissal, the Strikers ran into a collapse which halted the flow of runs for the home side.

Strikers’ captain Dickwella stood his ground firm and kept the scoreboard ticking singlehandedly before Nishan Madushanka finally got rid of him in the 11th over.

He remained the top-scorer for the Strikers with a 34-ball 58, laced up with nine boundaries and a six.

Besides him, Chamika Karunaratne (23 off 15) could make a notable contribution with the bat.

Hardus Viljoen led the bowling attack for the Kings with 3/31, followed by two each from Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Dilshan Madushanka.

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Prominent Bollywood actor Sanjay Dutt has expressed his desire to meet Pakistan’s cricket legend Javed Miandad.

In a video message for the former skipper of the national cricket team, Javed Miandad, Bollywood celebrity Sanjay Dutt extended his greetings and expressed his desire to meet him soon in Kandy, Sri Lanka.

In the clip, Sanjay Dutt, who has recently joined the Lankan Premier League as the co-owner of the T20 franchise team, B Love Kandy, shared his fondness for Javed Miandad and the mentor of the team. “It feels so good to see you after this long. See you soon in Kandy,” Dutt addressed Miandad in the video.

Sharing the clip on his Twitter handle, the cricket icon wrote, “Thank you Dear @duttsanjay and @OmarKhanOK2 for all the love, anxiously waiting to join @BLoveKandy in August 2023 in #LPL2023.”

Thank you Dear @duttsanjay and @OmarKhanOK2 for all the love, anxiously waiting to join @BLoveKandy in August 2023 in #LPL2023. pic.twitter.com/we3Y0aPFBY

— Javed Miandad (@Javed__Miandad) July 11, 2023

It is pertinent to mention that the fourth edition of LPL, the T20 franchise cricket tournament in Sri Lanka, is scheduled to be played between five teams, from July 31 to August 22.

A total of 13 Pakistan cricketers were roped in for the upcoming fourth edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in the player auction which took place last month.

Notably, before the auction took place, some of Pakistan’s notable cricketers had already found new homes in the LPL. Leading the charge is the formidable Pakistan captain, Babar Azam, who will be representing the Colombo Strikers.

Joining Babar in the LPL was the young and fiery fast bowler, Naseem Shah, who had also been acquired by the Colombo franchise.

Another key addition to the LPL is the explosive batsman, Fakhar Zaman, who will be donning the colours of the B-Love Kandy team.

Pakistan Players to participate in LPL 2023

B-Love Kandy: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hasnain, Asif Ali, Mohammad Haris, Aamer Jamal

Colombo Strikers: Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Wahab Riaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz

Jaffna Kings: Shoaib Malik, Zaman Khan.

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COLOMBO: A total of 13 Pakistan cricketers were roped in for the upcoming fourth edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) after the player auction took place here on Wednesday.

The fourth edition of the LPL will run from July 31 to August 22 and will feature five teams competing for the silverware.

More than 500 players from different countries registered themselves for the LPL auction, which took place here on Wednesday.

Notably, before the auction took place, some of Pakistan’s notable cricketers had already found new homes in the LPL. Leading the charge is the formidable Pakistan captain, Babar Azam, who will be representing the Colombo Strikers.

Joining Babar in the LPL was the young and fiery fast bowler, Naseem Shah, who had also been acquired by the Colombo franchise.

Another key addition to the LPL is the explosive batsman, Fakhar Zaman, who will be donning the colours of the B-Love Kandy team.

Meanwhile, in the LPL auction that took place yesterday, all five franchises participating in the tournament had a total prize purse of $500,000 at their disposal to acquire talented players from around the world.

Consequently, a total of 13 Pakistan players were bought by the LPL franchises in different categories which include Iftikhar Ahmed, Wahab Riaz and Shoaib Malik.

Whereas, some other prominent names from Pakistan – Imad Wasim, Sarfaraz Ahmed, Azam Khan, Haider Ali, Sharjeel Khan, Umar Akmal and Faheem Ashraf – went unsold in the LPL auction.

Pakistan Players to participate in LPL 2023

B-Love Kandy: Fakhar Zaman, Mohammad Hasnain, Asif Ali, Mohammad Haris, Aamer Jamal

Colombo Strikers: Babar Azam, Naseem Shah, Wahab Riaz, Iftikhar Ahmed, Mohammad Nawaz

Jaffna Kings: Shoaib Malik, Zaman Khan

Complete squads

B-Love Kandy: Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Wanindu Hasaranga, Fakhar Zaman, Angelo Mathews, Isuru Udana, Dinesh Chandimal, Mohammad Hasnain, Dushmantha Chameera, Sahan Arachchige, Ashen Bandara, Mohammad Haris, Navod Paranavithana, Asif Ali, Kamindu Mendis, Nuwan Pradeep, Chaturanga de Silva, Lahiru Madushanka, Aameer Jamal, Malsha Tharupathi, Thanuka Dabare, Lasith Abeyrathne, Avishka Tharindu

Jaffna Kings: David Miller, Thisara Perera, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, Maheesh Theekshana, Charith Asalanka, Dunith Wellalage, Shoaib Malik, Pathum Kumara, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, Theesan Vithushan, Asanka Manoj, Nishan Madushka, Asitha Fernando, Hardus Viljoen, Nuwan Thushara, Dilshan Madushanka, Zaman Khan, Ashan Randika, Ratnarajah Thenurathan, Chris Lynn, Asela Gunarathne

Dambulla Aura: Mathew Wade, Kusal Mendis, Lungi Ndidi, Avishka Fernando, Dhananjaya de Silva, Kusal Janith Perera, Hayden Kerr, Sadeera Samarawickrama, Binura Fernando, Noor Ahmad, Sachitha Jayathilaka, Janith Liyanage, Dushan Hemantha, Pramod Madushan, Shanawaz Dasani, Lakshan Edirisinghe, Jehan Daniel, Wanuja Sahan, Kavidu Pathirathna, Ravindu Fernando, Alex Ross, Treveen Mathew, Manelker de Silva, Praveen Jayawcikrama

Colombo Strikers: Babar Azam, Matheesha Pathirana, Naseem Shah, Chamika Karunaratne, Pathum Nissanka, Niroshan Dickwella, Wahab Riaz, Lakshan Sandakan, Nipun Dananjaya, Movin Subasinghe, Lahiru Udara, Eshan Malinga, Sashika Dulshan, Nuwanidu Fernando, Iftikhar Ahmad, Lorcan Tucker, Jeffrey Vandersay, Angelo Perera, Dhananjaya Lakshan, Kanishka Anjula, Ramesh Mendis, Mohammad Nawaz, Ahan Wickramasinghe, Yashoda Lanka,

Galle Titans: Shakib Al Hasan, Dasun Shanaka, Tabraiz Shamsi, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Seekkuge Prasanna, Lahiru Kumara, Lasith Croospulle, Sohan de Livera, Ashan Priyanjan, Ben Cutting, Mohammad Mithun, Minod Bhanuka, Pasindu Sooriyabandara, Shevon Daniel, Mohomed Shiraz, Lahiru Samarakoon, Kasun Rajitha, Akila Dananjaya, Chad Bowes, Tim Seifert, Sonal Dinusha, Avishka Perera, Anuk Fernando, Vishwa Fernando

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