SKIPPER ANGELO PERERA AND RAVI BOPARA GUIDES KANDY WARRIORS TO A SIX WICKET VICTORY OVER DAMBULLA GIANTS 18th LPL Match
The fifth wicket unbroken 60-run partnership between Skipper Angelo Perera and Ravi Bopara guided Kandy Warriors to record a six-wicket victory over Dambulla Giants in their LPL fixture played at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Kandy Worries, chasing a target of 131, reached 135 for 4 wickets with Bopara making 59 in 50 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes while Perera made a good supporting role by scoring 29 in 22 balls seal their much-needed win and getting high expectations to enter the playoff with one game remaining against Colombo Stars, today, a must-win for both sides.
Dambulla Giants, choosing to bat first, were struggling at 56 for 5 wickets after 10.5 overs while they had to face a big blow with skipper Dasun Shanaka scoring only 4 runs retired hurt with a lower back injury in the 5th over, which was bowled by Kamindu Mendis.
However, Sachitha Jayathilake, who scored 34 in 40 balls hit 2 fours and six together with Ramesh Mendis (41 in 28 balls) striking 2 fours and six, made a valuable 49-run sixth-wicket stand to build up their innings while Kandy Warriors conceded 15 extras including 14 wides which finally brought Dambulla to reach 130 for 9 wickets in 20 overs. Two paceman Binura Fernando and Al Amin Hossain took three wickets each for Kandy Warriors.
Ravi Bopara who hit an unbeaten 59 was named “Man of the Match”.
Chief scores
Dambulla Giants: 130/9 in 20 overs (Niroshan Dickwella 12, Najibullah Zadran 14, Sachitha Jayathilake 34, Ramesh Mendis 41, Binura Fernando 3/22, Al- Amin Hossain 3/32)
Kandy Warriors: 135/4 in 19.2 overs Kennar Lewis 27, Ravi Bopara 59*, Angelo Perera 29*, Imran Tahir 2/17, Ramesh Mendis 2/19)