By Srian Obeyesekere
Colombo Strikers struck it rich routing Kandy Falcons by 51 runs with Pakistani pacer Shadab Khan claiming Player of the Match 4 for 22 runs in the third LPL played at the Pallekelle International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Put in to bat, Colombo Strikers ran up 198 for 7 on a top score of 48 by Sadeera Samarawickrama off 26 balls inclusive of 7 boundaries and a six with No. 3 Muhammad Waseem 32 off 18 reeling 2 sixes and boundaries apiece while skipper Thisara Perera 38 off 30 with 5 boundaries added the tempo. Bringing up the rear were Chamika Karunaratne with an unbeaten 25 off 10 hammering 2 over the top and and across apiece, and Shadab Khan 20 off 17 with 3 boundaries.
Kandy Falcons came a cropper in the face of the two pronged 4-wicket piece works of Shadab Khan and Dunith Wellalage whose 4 for 20 broke the back of the innings in a 3.5-over spell.
However, Khan’s all-round performance won him the day by the result and the Player of the Match award.
Dinesh Chandimal top scored for the Falcons with 38 off 26 (8×4) with skipper Wanindu Hasaranga 25 off 14 (3×4, 1×6), Angelo Mathews 25 off 20 (3×4, 1×6) and Andre Fletcher 24 off 12 (4×4, 1×6) the mainstays.
Colombo strikers 198/7
(Sadeera Samarawickrama 48, Thisara Perera 38, Chamika Karunaratne n.o. 25, Rahman Ullah Gurbaz 17, Shadab Khan 17, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/30, Kasun Rajitha 2/56,
Kandy Falcons 147 (15.5 Overs)
(Dinesh Chandimal 38, 26 8, Wanindu Hasaranga 25 14 3 1, Angelo Mathews 25, 20 3 1, Andre Fletcher 24, 12 4 1, Kamindu Mendis 11, Dunith Wellalage 4/20, Shadab Khan 4/22)