A convincing win for Kandy to kickstart LPL 2024. A double-header tomorrow, so do join us for that. That's all from us tonight. Take care, ciao!
11pm Time for the presentation
Dasun Shanaka, Player of the Match: "Coming to this tournament, the captain and the team had a plan to give me the new ball. Happy to contribute. I gave some time for me with the bat. In practice, coaches helped me with the balance. Happy with the result, looking forward to more such days, but not a great day, my friend passed away. Wickramasinghe and Chapman are quality players, the mixture with international players helps in this tournament."
Mohammad Nabi, Dambulla captain: "Good recovery from Chapman and Wiki, to put on a 150-run partnership. Everyone knows Pallekele is a batting pitch. We were a few runs short, overall a good game of cricket. Really happy to be involved in the last moment. Normally we perform well as a team."
Wanindu Hasaranga, Kandy captain: "Credit should go to our batters. Chandimal batted well, Shanaka's allround efforts were good, Mathews is the best finisher. The wicket was very good. The first five-six overs, the ball was swinginging, and after that the wicket was good. We bowled a few no-balls, need to pay attention. Playing an U-23 player is good, we should play young players. That is good for Sri Lanka cricket."
10:48pm Just the start Kandy would have wanted to a new season, Dambulla were completely outplayed. Shanaka and Hasnain set the tone for Kandy early, reducing the opposition to 25 for 4 in the first 4.1 overs. But then Chapman and Wickramasinghe played wonderfully, and it seemed they had escaped to a challenging score. But it wasn't to be. There were no demons on the surface, as Chandimal, Mathews and then Shanaka showed. Dambulla bowlers couldn't find their lengths and lines and were duly punished. Lots to think for Dambulla at the start of the season.
Millan: "Love to see Dassa back in action "
Sowmya : "To take on Fizz and hit him requires immense skills. Dasun has delivered against one of the best white ball bowlers in the world!"
Lasantha: "The whole cricket world knows that Shanaka is strong against fast bowlers but struggled against spinners. But Nabi uses his fast bowlers against Shanaka. Terrible mistake." Dananjaya's overs were done, and Nabi perhaps didn't feel it compelling enough to bowl himself
Madushanka for possibly the final over of the game
END OF OVER:17 | 21 Runs | KAF: 177/4 (3 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 10.41, RRR: 1.00)
- Angelo Mathews37 (20b)
- Dasun Shanaka40 (13b)
- Nuwan Thushara3-0-35-1
- Mustafizur Rahman3-0-44-1
44 off the two power-blast overs in this innings, as opposed to just 13 in the first innings