Match Details
So that’s that and it’s the Dambulla Giants that have secured a win by six wickets and eight balls to spare. They have now advanced into Qualifier 2 while crashing the Stars out of the tournament.
Opting to bat first, the Colombo Stars posted a first-innings total of 145-6 from 20 overs of play.
Kusal Perera’s stay was short as he got dismissed for 3 (6)
by Nuwan Pradeep. His opening partner, Tom Banton was run out for the second
time in quick succession for 13 (13). Pathum Nissanka and Dhananjaya de Silva partnered
along to accumulate 42 runs as an act of consolidation.
However, veteran leg
spinner Imran Tahir soon chipped in and got Dhananjaya de Silva out, bowled for 15 (11). Pathum Nissanka also showed some character for
his 42 (39) but was unable to change gears as Tahir got his second victim of
the night. The skipper Angelo Mathews provided respite and scored an unbeaten
50* (34) which got his side to a respectable total.
Nuwan Pradeep and Imran Tahir bowled terrifically well as they picked up two wickets while conceding under 30 runs each in the process.
Talking about the run chase, the Dambulla Giants captain Niroshan
Dickwella was dismissed off the very first ball, as he handed a catch back to Chameera
on the follow-through. Sandun Weerakkody didn’t have much to offer either as
he got stumped for 10 (11), by wrist-spinner Prasanna.
Philip Salt along with Janith Liyanage eased
off the pressure with a 48 run stand for the third wicket. Salt did manage to
play a valuable knock of 32 (21), before getting caught in Vandersay’s over. Janith
Liyanage didn’t stop there as he then came together with Najibullah Zadran to
accumulate a partnership of 61 runs. Zadran was dismissed by countryman Naveen
ul Haq at a crucial juncture of the game for 34 (28). Things did get nervy
toward the end, but Janith Liyanage’s mature contribution of 56* (46) got his
side over the line, and through to the Qualifiers.
The final score in the second innings for the Stars was 146-4 from 18.5 overs.
The Colombo Stars will believe that they fell short by 15 runs if not more, and will now be heading home as a result of it.