When it looked like the Colombo Stars were done for judging by the terrible defeat to Jaffna Kings a day ago, Kusal Janith Perera emerged the unlikely hero with the bat scoring a 38-ball 58 while Jeffrey Vandersay followed up with an astounding 6 for 25 to make it to the last four play off by the ousting of the Kandy Warriors by 58 runs in a decisive must win contest of the Lanka Premier League 2021 at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday.
We all know what a game changer Kusal Janith is. He has done it before. But a form slump had seen an off-shine batsman in the tournament run. Rising from such a shaky limbo to leading the run charge manning Colombo’s opening slot having batted first in a knock tucked with 6 boundaries and 2 sixes indeed won the day for Colombo Stars by 182 for 6 off 20.
Jeffrey Vandersay as much made it his day in a Player of the Match upping moderate performances to a career sky high bout that spun out the Kandy Warriors for 124 in 17 overs. Overly, it was a star-filled day for Colombo Stars. The batting was well backed by Dinesh Chandimal who made 44 off 29 with 3 boundaries and 2 sixes, and Dhananjaya de Silva 40 off 20 with 7 fours while skipper Angelo Mathews made 29 off 16. Nimesh Vimukthi took 3 for 24 for the Warriors.
Ravi Bopara top scored for the Warriors with 31 with 5 fours and a six while Kennar Lewis made 21 off 11 with 3 over the top.