By Srian Obeyesekere
Angelo Perera rose in stature striking a match winning 49-ball 67 laced with 3 sixes and 5 boundaries in guiding the Dambulla Viiking to an emphatic 5-wicket win against Kandy Tuskers in the second Day-Night match, and the 10th of the Lanka Premier League at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium at Sooriyawewa, Hambantota on Thursday. Dambulla Vikings made 157 for 5 off 19.2 overs in reply to Kandy Tuskers 156 for 6 off 20 having batted first on winning the toss.
Player of the Match Perera shared in a 46-ball 79-run fourth wicket alliance with skipper Dasun Shanaka who made 33 off 23 hitting 3 boundaries and a six in making the difference between the two sides. The duo took the Vikings to within 22 runs of the 157-run target when Angelo Perera departed in the first ball of the 17th over. Shanaka followed 7 runs later before the sixth-wicket pair of Samiullah Shinwari (11 off 10, 2×4)and Anwar Ali (9 off 6, 1×4) did the rest.
Kandy Tuskers innings revolved around skipper Kusal Janith Perera upfront striking a 34-ball 41(5×4) and Kusal Mendis a 45-ball top score of 55 hitting 4 boundaries and 2 sixes. But the batting precipitated from 125 for 3 off 16.1 with the desired fire power late charge not forthcoming. Asela Gunaratne was unbeaten on 18 off 12 with a boundary and six. Kasun Rajitha took 2 for 16 and Muthumudalige Pushpakumara 2 for 28.
CHIEF SCORES:
KANDY TUSKERS 156/6 (20 Overs) RR: 7.8
(B.K.G. Mendis 55, M.D.K.J. Perera 41, D.A.S. Gunaratne n.o. 18, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 15, B.R.M. Taylor 13, C.A.K. Rajitha 2/16, P.M. Pushpakumara 2/28)
Fall of wickets: 1-33 (Rahmanullah Gurbaz, 3.5 ov), 2-91 (Kusal Perera, 11.2 ov), 3-125 (Brendan Taylor, 16.1 ov), 4-125 (Seekkuge Prasanna, 16.2 ov), 5-129 (Kusal Mendis, 17.1 ov), 6-155 (Kamindu Mendis, 19.4 ov)
DAMBULLA VIKINGS 157/5 (19.2 Overs) RR: 8.12
(A.K. Perera 67, M.D. Shanaka 33, W.U. Tharanga 19, S.R. Patel 11, S. Shinwari n.o. 11,Anwar Ali n.o. 9)
Fall of wickets: 1-4 (Niroshan Dickwella, 0.3 ov), 2-42 (Upul Tharanga, 5.5 ov), 3-56 (Samit Patel, 8.1 ov), 4-135 (Angelo Perera, 16.1 ov), 5-142 (Dasun Shanaka, 17.1 ov)
