Colombo Stars stuns star-studded Kandy Falcons to enter final

Kasun Rajitha was the pick of the Colombo Stars bowlers with 4 wickets for 20 runs

Wanindu Hasaranga played a captain’s knock of 77* off 34 balls for Kandy Falcons

• Meet defending champs Jaffna Kings today

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Charith Asalanka celebrates his half-century for Colombo Stars

For the second consecutive night the experienced duo of Ravi Bopara and Angelo Mathews rolled back the years to carry Colombo Stars to victory beating fancied Kandy Falcons by six wickets in Qualifier 2

of the Lanka Premier League to enter the final at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Colombo, led by former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews, will meet Jaffna Kings captained by another former Sri Lanka skipper Thisara Perera in the final today commencing 7.30 p.m.

The quality bowling attack of Kandy was put to the sword by the Colombo top and middle order batsmen who took them by the scruff of their neck and dealt with them severely.

The foundation for Colombo’s run chase of 169 was set by Dinesh Chandimal (38 off 33 balls) and Charith Asalanka (64 off 40 balls, 7 fours, 3 sixes) in a second wicket partnership of 90 off 64 balls. The finishing touches to Colombo’s successful run chase was put by Bopara (29* off 16 balls, 3 fours, 1 six) and Mathews (21* off 13 balls, 3 sixes) who figured in an unbroken stand of 45 off 25 balls.

Kandy skipper Wanindu Hasaranga who had earlier scored a career best 77* off 34 balls (8 fours, 3 sixes) to take his side from 42-3 to a challenging score of 168-6, was at the receiving end of the broad bats of Mathews and Bopara as they plundered 20 runs off him in the 18th over including three sixes to bring the equation down to just 10 runs off 12 balls. 

Bopara hit the first and fifth balls for crunching boundaries off the penultimate over of Fabian Allen to seal victory in style for Colombo.

It seems that Colombo who began rather shakily have peaked at the right moment and a grand final awaits with Jaffna.

Kandy was jolted early by two quick wickets in the opening over by Player of the Match Kasun Rajitha (4/20) who accounted for both openers Pathum Nissanka for two and Andre Fletcher without scoring – both falling lbw. Rajitha would have had a third in the over if Benny Howell at slip did not put down Ashen Bandara off the first ball he faced. If Bopara had held the chance offered by Kamindu Mendis at two, Colombo would have Kandy four down for 14 at that stage.

The lapses on the field helped Kandy stage an incredible recovery with Bandara joining his captain Hasaranga in a record fourth wicket partnership of 92 off 55 balls. Bandara (40 off 42 balls) allowed Hasaranga to express himself by playing second fiddle in the partnership. Hasaranga clearly signalled his intentions to dominate and drove the innings, playing with consummate ease as he handled the pressure very well to carve out the second fastest 50 of the ongoing LPL reaching it off 22 balls with seven fours and a six. Jaffna’s Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored the fastest 50 off 20 balls against Dambulla Aura.

Both teams were guilty of dropped catches, but it was Kandy who eventually paid a heavy price for it.

Scores: 

Kandy Falcons 168-6 (20) (Kamindu Mendis 23, Ashen Bandara 40, Wanindu Hasaranga 77*, Kasun Rajitha 4/20)

Colombo Stars 169-4 (18.5) (Dinesh Chandimal 38, Charith Asalanka 64, Ravi Bopara 29*, Angelo Mathews 21*, Kamindu Mendis 2/26)