With the crowd throb picking up with cricket starved fans turning up by the numbers as the tournament wends to a final gallop, Kandy Warriors went past one frontier to booking the final fourth place when they defeated Dambulla Giants by 6 wickets in tonight’s second day-night fixture of the Sri Lanka Premier League and the 18th of the tournament at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

The result driven by Player of the Match Ravi Bopara’s unbeaten 59 and Skipper Angelo Perera’s undefeated 29 whipped up the hype to the tournament as Kandy Warriors romped to 135 for 4 off 19.2 overs in overhauling the Giants total of 130 for 9 off 20.  The Warriors facing off tomorrow with Colombo Stars who were pushed to fourth place following their defeat to Jaffna Kings in today’s first encounter, would be a decisive must win play off for either side.

After Binura Fernando 3 for 22 and Al Amin Hossain 3 for 32 had combined in reducing the Dambulla Giants to 130, Ravi Bopara unleashed a 50-ball half century containing 2 sixes and 3 boundaries in a crucial 60-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Angelo Perera, who struck 3 boundaries in his 22-ball knock. Upfront, Kenna Lewis had set it up with a 22-ball 29.

The Dambulla innings revolved around Ramesh Mendis’ 41 off 28 inclusive of 2 boundaries and a six. Sachitha Jayathilaka made 34 off 40 with 2 fours and a six.