Opener Niroshan Dickwella came back strong to score a quick 62 runs in 31 balls with 8 fours and 2 sixes as Colombo Stars recorded a thrilling 9-run victory to beat Dambulla Aura in their LPL fixture played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Dambulla Aura led by Dasun Shanaka chasing a 166-run target only reached 156 for 7 wickets in 20 overs in reply to Colombo Stars’ total of 165 for 9 wickets. Suranga Lakmal the former National paceman bowled well to pick up 2 for 29 in his 4-over spell for Colombo while the 24-year-old Afghanistan paceman finished the game with figures of two for 30 in his 3-over spell.

Earlier, wicket-keeper batter Niroshan Dickwella played a superb innings as he scored 62 runs with a strike rate of 151.21. The former English player Ravi Bopara (26 in 25 balls with 2 fours and a six), while Dinesh Chandimal hit an unbeaten 29 in 23 balls with 2 fours and six, added useful contributions to pass the 150 mark and post a challenging total for Colombo.

Dambulla Aura paceman Lahiru Kumara was the pick of the bowlers with his best figures of 4 for 36 in his 4 overs while Zimbabwean all-rounder Sikandar Raza finished with 1 for 31.

Niroshan Dickwella was named the Player of the Match.

The five teams are scheduled to leave for Pallekele today for the second stage of the LPL which will commence tomorrow.