Dambulla Aura thrash Colombo Strikers by 50 runs
Dambulla Aura took the top position of the LPL 4 points table after handing Colombo Strikers their fourth defeat, by a thick margin of 50 runs, in the second game played at the R. Premadasa International Stadium in Colombo last evening.
Chasing 167 for victory, Colombo Strikers were left to struggle right throughout their innings before succumbing to a paltry 116 with two deliveries left. The main striker of Dambulla Aura’s win was paceman Hasan Ali, who bowled effectively to capture three wickets, conceding only 16 runs. Fast bowler Binura Fernando and spinners Noor Ahmad captured two wickets each to tighten the grip on Colombo Strikers, who failed to capitalise.
Their top contributor with the bat was Nuwanidu Fernando, who top scored with 21 off 20 deliveries inclusive of three boundaries. Mohammad Nawaz made 20 off 24 balls while others failed to strike.
Electing to bat, Dambulla Aura were soon in trouble when they lost three of their top order batsmen – Avishka Fernando, Kusal Mendis and Sadeera Samarawickrama for 24 before the fifth over against the bowling of Naseem Shah, Chamika Karunaratne and Matheesha Pathirana. Dhananjaya de Silva couldn’t settle in and fell victim to Jeffrey Vandersay after making 11 off nine deliveries.
But a steady partnership of 102 runs for the fifth wicket between Ben McDermott and Alex Ross guided Dambulla Aura to a respectable total as they finished at 166 for the loss of five wickets. McDermott remained unbeaten on 69 off 46 deliveries with four boundaries and four sixes while Ross made 52 off 38 deliveries inclusive of five fours and two sixes.
Pathirana completed his four overs conceding 36 runs and with two wickets, while Shah, Karunaratne and Vandersay picked a wicket each.
| Chief ScoresDambulla Aura 166 for 5 (20) (Ben McDermott 69n.o., Alex Ross 52, Matheesha Pathirana 2/36) Colombo Strikers 116 all out (19.4) (Nuwanidu Fernando 21, Mohammad Nawaz 20, Ifthikar Ahmed 18, Hasan Ali 3/16, Noor Ahmad 2/14, Dushan Hemantha 2/16, Binura Fernando 2/18) | |