By Srian Obeyesekere
Skipper Mohammad Nabi played a Player of the Match captain’s knock of 40 off 33 balls inclusive of 4 boundaries and 2 sixes in leading Dambulla Sixers to a 28-run win against Colombo Strikers in a low scoring 20th night match of the Lanka Premier League yesterday at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.
Afghanistan all-rounder Nabi rescued his side from a poor 5 for 38 after 7.1 overs figuring in a 62 partnership for the sixth-wicket off 46 balls together with Chamindu Wickramasinghe who scored 26 off 29 with a boundary and six apiece. He was out on the stroke of Dambulla Strikers reaching the hundred mark by the filth ball of the sixteenth over to Binura Fernando who had him caught by Angelo Perera while Wickremasinghe too followed in quick succession bowled by Matheesha Pathirana with the score 107 in 17.1 overs. Dushan Hemantha 10 off 7 with a six and Akila Dananjaya 8 off 9 with a boundary added 14 to further propping up the score.
Binura Fernndo was the pick of Colombo Strikers bowlers claiming 3 for 15 while Dunith Wellalage and Pathirana collected 2 apiece.
Colombo Strikers was shot out for 95 in 18.1 overs.Seeking a fifth win to further consolidate their third place, they started disastrously losing the first 3 wickets for 16 runs with both openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Angelo Perera falling for ducks to Chamindu Wickramasinghe who clean bowled Gurbaz with the fifth delivery of the innings and went on to induce Perera to offering Mark Chapman a catch.
Colombo Strikers skidded further to 7 for 52 after 9.3 overs with only skipper Thisara Perera resisting with a run a ball top score of 30 hitting 3 sixes and a boundary. He was last out with no real support when Nuwan Pradeep had him caught by Reeza Hendricks.
Nuwan Pradeep reaped 3 wickets for 20 and Wickramasinghe 2 for 13 in wrecking Colombo Strikers who however remained firmly insulated in third place of the points table with 8 points from 4 wins to fourth placed Kandy Falcons 6 points 3 wins from their respective 8 matches.
CHIEF SCORES:
Dambulla Sixers 123 (20 Overs) (Mohammad Nabi 40, Chamindu Wickramasinghe 26, Nuwanidu Fernando 15, Dushan Hemantha 10, Binura Fernando 3/15, Dunith Wellalage 2/18, Matheesha Pathirana 2/25, Isitha Wijesundara 1/16)
Colombo Strikers 95 (18.1 Overs) (Thisara Perera 30, Muhammad Waseem 15, Isitha Wijesundara 12, Dunith Wellalag 11, Nuwan Pradeep 3/20, Wickramasinghe 2/13, Dushan Hemantha ½, Mohammad Nabi 1/11, Akila Dananjaya 1/18)
