Kamindu Mendis stroked a fine knock of 58 in 40 balls with 9 fours as Kandy Falcons registered an easy 77-run win over Dambulla Aura in their LPL cricket fixture played at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Kandy Falcons led by all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga, made a superb batting display as they scored a challenging total of 193 for 3 wickets in 20 overs. Dambulla Aura led by Dasun Shanaka ended with a disappointing performance and were shot out for just 116 in 14.2 overs. Chasing the target was a struggle for the Dambulla side. Six wickets fell down from the first six overs alone during the first Power Play.
The openers Shevon Daniel (9) and newcomer Lasith Croosepulle (13) added a quick 23 runs in just 2.1 overs but the top order struggled to face Chamika Karunaratne’s attack, who did immense damage to get both openers’ wickets within a three-ball space in his over while Skipper Dasun Shanaka was out on a first-ball duck off Carlos Brathwaite’s bowling. Zimbabwean all rounder Sikandar Raza scored only 1 run in 3 balls while Caribbean spinner Fabian Allen took his wicket to assert total dominance over the Dambulla side which is coached by former National player Mickey Arthur.
Bhanuka Rajapaksha who was not among the runs in this series failed once again to impress with the bat scoring 18 in 22 balls with a six while young Chamindu Wijesinghe who played his LPL debut game finished with fine figures of 3 for 25 including Bhanuka’s wicket. Paceman Carlos Brathwaite was the most successful bowler taking 3 for 25 and giving good support to Chamika Karunaratne who bowled only 2 overs and Fabian Allen bowled only 1 .2 overs as they took two wickets each.
Earlier Pathum Nissanka (26) and Andre Fletcher (44) added 48 runs opening stand in 5.5 overs while Kamindu Mendis the former National under 19 skipper played an excellent innings scoring a half century with in-form batsman Ashen Bandara making an unbeaten 42 in 22 balls hit 4 fours and a six.
Kamindu Mendis was adjudged Man of the Match.
He said that he used to play his innings after Fletcher laid a solid start with Nissanka.
Kandy Falcons sit comfortably on top of the table and with this victory they collected 8 points after five matches. Jaffna Kings the defending champions are in second place with 8 points after 5 matches. Galle Gladiators is in third place with 4 points while Colombo Stars have one win with 2 points and Dambulla Aura have not recorded a single victory.
Chief scores:
Kandy Falcons: 193 for 3 wickets in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 26, Andre Fletcher 44, Kamindu Mendis 58, Ashen Bandara 42*, Najibullah Zadran 16*, Promod Madushan 1/39, Chaturanga de Silva 1/26)
Dambulla Aura: 116 all out in 14.2 overs (Lasith Croosepulle 13, Bhanuka Rajapaksha 18, Chaturanga de Silva 25,Paul Van Meekeren 10, Noor Ahamad 20, Carlos Brathwaite 3/25, Chamika Karunaratne 2/11, Fabian Allen 2/5,Chamindu Wijesinghe 3/25)
