By Srian Obeyesekere
On the heels of leading Kandy Falcons Skipper Wanindu Hasaranga to a comprehensive 54-run win over Dambulla Sixers with a characteristic all-round Player of the Match display of 25 off 12 and 4 for 35 in the second Lanka Premier night contest, his voiced that not only cricketers but that people in general face challenges.
He said so responding to questions at the post-match press briefing as to why he quit the SRri Lanka T20 captaincy. Hasaranga said, “It is not only in cricket, people in general undergo challenges at some stage of their lives. However, I am well equipped to face such challenges and will remain steadfast to give my best in cricket which is an undying passion of mine driven by my all-round ability as a bowler and batsman.”
As to his side’s prospects receding in the tournament Hasaranga said that it was very unfortunate that ‘Kandy Falcons was left without an owner. With no owner to look to the side’s needs we suffered a setback.’
He went on to state that he had come out of his sick bed to play in yesterday’s game.
Indeed, the wily 26-year-old all-rounder shrugged illness handicaps to bringing all his gutsy derring-do to play in yesterday’s decisive contest to lifting his side’s hopes in the mega tournament taking strike at No.4 after Kandy Falcons had lost Mohammad Harris for 24 with the score 60 for 2 into the third delivery of the seventh over as he smote 25 off 12 piercing the boundary on 5 occasions in figuring in 44 for the third-wicket together with Andre Fletcher who struck a top score of 60 off 34 mounted by an extraordinary 7 hits over the top and boundary.
Taking over from where Fletchder and Hasaranga left were next in Kamindu Mendis a whirlwind 51 off 24 with 5 boundaries and 2 sixes and Angelo Mathews 44 off 23 decorated by 5 over the top in an unfinished 95 bonding for the fifth-wicket off 45.
Dushan Hemantha was the pick of Dambulla’s bowlers with 3 for 14.
He was back in the action with the ball in scything through Dambulla Sixers in accounting for the prize wicket of opening batsman Kusal Janith Perera who played a virtual loner of a classic 74 off 40 slamming 5 over the top and an equal number of boundaries when Hasaranga had him caught by Mohammad Hasnain reducing Dambulla to 125 for 6 after 14.5 overs. Dasun Shanaka aligned in a 3 for 29 take for the Falcons.
CHIEF SCORES:
Kandy Falcons 222/4 (20 Overs) (Andre Fletcher 60, Kamindu Mendis n.o. 51, Angelo Mathews n.o. 44, Wanindu Hasaranga 25, Mohammad Haris 24, Dinesh Chandimal 12, Dushan Hemantha 3/14, Sonal Dinusha 1/14)
Dambulla Sixers168/9 (20 Overs) (Kusal Janith Perera 74, Mark Chapman 24, Chamindu Wickramasinghe 18, Sonal Dinusha 17, Dushan Hemantha 17, Wanindu Hasaranga 4/35, Dasun Shanaka 3/29, Chathuranga de Silva 1/9, Mohammad Hasnain 1/31)
