By Srian Obeyesekere
Colombo Kings bounced bank into contention storming into the semi-finals brushing aside Kandy Tuskers by a facile 7-wicket triumph for their second win in two days in the Lanka Premier League in the second Day-Night match and 13th of the tournament at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in Sooriyawewa, Hambantota. Four wins from 5 outings insulated Colombo Kings second in the points table with 8 points with a net run rate of 0.844 behind table leaders and first semi-finalists Jaffna Stallions 8 points from 4 wins from 5 games with net run rate of 1.243.
The Kings made short work of the Kandy Tuskers innings after they opted to bat on winning the toss and were shot out for 105 in 19.2 overs. The domination by Colombo Kings bowlers was illustrated by the fact that the highest individual score was 34 by Rahmanullah Gurbaz (4×4, 2×6).
Ashan Priyanjan 2 for 4, Thikshila de Silva 2 for 6, and Qais Ahmad 2 for 8 did the damage with the ball.
Colombo Kings sped to victory finishing on 108 for 3 off 14.1 overs with once again Dinesh Chandimal playing the upfront opener’s role to good effect slamming an unbeaten 35 off 39 inclusive of 7 boundaries. Having posted 22 for the first wicket with Laurie Evans 5 off 2.2 overs, he watched Daniel Bell Drummond fall for 5 with the total 41 and skipper Angelo Mathews for 2 making it 52 for 3, but that was as far as the Tuskers could get with Chandimal finding support from Ashan Priyanjan 26 off 27 with 5 boundaries in an unfinished partnership of 56 runs.
Player of the Match was Dushmantha Chameera for his 1 for 17 off 4 overs.
CHIEF SCORES:
KANDY TUSKERS 105 (19.2 Ovedrs) RR: 5.43
(R. Gurbaz 34, I.K. Pathan 18, M.D.K. Perera 12, S.M.A. Priyanjan 2 for 4, S.T. de Silva 2 for 6, and Qais Ahmad 2 for 8)
COLOMBO KINGS 108/3 (14.2 Overs) RR: 7.62
(L.D. Chandimal n.o. 35, S.M.A. Priyanjan n.o. 26, D.J. Bell Drummond 11)
