Dambulla Viiking spinners dethrone Colombo Kings

By Madushka Balasuriya 

The Dambulla Viiking served up the first real outstanding bowling performance of the LPL, as their army of spinners utterly neutralised the big-hitting Colombo Kings on their way to an impressive 28-run win in Sooriyawewa last night.

Each of the six bowlers used by the Viiking picked up a wicket, though the standouts were undoubtedly the spin contingent of Samit Patel, Malinda Pushpakumara, Sachindu Colombage and Pulina Tharanga, who picked up seven wickets between them.

The latter two had been drafted in as part of four changes, alongside Anwar Ali and Angelo Perera, from the team that had lost to the Jaffna Stallions less than 24 hours prior. Out went Ramesh Mendis and the pace trio of Lahiru Kumara, Lahiru Madushanka and Aftab Alam – the latter, in fact, might have been rather aggrieved considering his excellent display with the ball the previous night. But the Viiking clearly had a plan, as the spinners throttled a Kings line-up containing the likes of Andre Russell and Isuru Udana, as no Kings batsman – aside from Laurie Evans who hit a 33-ball 59 – managed to score more than 20 runs. Incredibly, number 10 Dushmantha Chameera was the second-highest scorer in the innings with 17.

At the halfway mark though the Kings would have fancied their chances, having limited the Kings to 175/9. That the Viiking had even got so much was largely down to their captain Dasun Shanaka, who once again was required to deal with a top order collapse after both Niroshan Dickwella and Paul Stirling fell cheaply. Indeed, early wickets followed by a middle order recovery is starting to be a Viiking template of sorts this LPL, and lucky for them they have one of the tournament’s in-form batsman Shanaka to help them execute it. For the third time in as many games, Shanaka was required to undertake the bulk of the Viiking scoring responsibility, and he happily obliged – aided by cameos from Upul Tharanga, Patel and Perera – on his way to a 34-ball 56.

But it still might not have been enough if not for the exemplary display in the field by the Viiking bowlers, none more so than by veteran Malinda Pushpakumara. Pushpakumara has toiled in the domestic circuit for pretty much his entire career with barely a sniff of Sri Lanka’s national side – mainly thanks to the longevity of a certain Rangana Herath. 

However today he showed why he’s picked up nearly 800 first-class wickets, as he showcased his game nous and guile, expertly varying his pace and trajectory on his way to figures of 2 for 19, including the scalp of the dangerous Udana.

The prize scalp of Russell however went to 22-year-old Colombage. The young leg spinner ended with figures of 28 for 1 after 3 overs, and it is unlikely that he’ll soon forget the feeling of having Dre Russ caught in the deep. 

It was at this point the Viiking players would have genuinely started to feel the game was within their reach. The dangerous Evans meanwhile was dismissed by another newcomer to team, leg spinner Tharanga, who rattled the Englishman’s stumps with one that skidded through. For the Kings this is a first loss, and possibly a reality-check after an unblemished record over their first two games. But for the Viiking this win was rather more important, and will help erase the memories of the bowling disaster-class against Thisara Perera the previous night.

Scores

• Dambulla Viiking – 175 for 9 (Shanaka 56, Patel 30, Russell 3-18, Udana 3-25) 
• Colombo Kings – 147 (Evans 59, Anwar Ali 2-10, Pushpakumara 2-19)