Colombo team managed to keep their unbeaten record intact as they registered their third consecutive win in the ‘SLC T20 league 2018’ defeating Dambulla team by 3 wickets today, at Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.
Dambulla skipper Dilruwan Perera won the toss and chose to bat first on a batting friendly surface. Left handed duo Danushka Gunathilaka and Ramith Rambuwella opened the innings for Dambulla team and got off to a solid start putting on 43 runs for the first wicket in 5.4 overs. Ramith Rambukwella smashed a quick 33 runs off 22 balls including 2 fours and 3 massive sixes.
Read: Colombo register second consecutive win in a thrilling contest
After the dismissal of Rambukwella panic set in, as Sadeera Samarawickrama, Ashan Priyanjan and Hasitha Boyagoda were run out cheaply. Danushka Gunathilaka made 23 runs off 30 balls before he was caught and bowled by Jeewan Mendis in the 11th over. Dambulla team continued to lose wickets at regular intervals and was bowled out for just 123 runs in 18.5 overs.
Read: Ashan Priyanjan shines as Dambulla win
Off spinner Akila Dananjaya and leg spinner Jeewan Mendis shined with the ball for Colombo team sharing 5 wickets between them. Chasing a modest total of 124 runs to win, Upul Tharanga and Avishka Fernando opened the innings for Colombo team, but could not provide a good start as the latter was dismissed by off spinner Danushka Gunathilaka for 7 runs.
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Upul Tharanga looked set for another big innings, but Dilruwan Perera got the better of Tharanga dismissing him for 35 runs. Shehan Jayasuriya who got 63 runs in the last game, departed early as he ran himself out for just 6 runs in the 9th over. At 65 for 3, Chathuranga de Silva joined skipper Dinesh Chandimal and put on a 20-run partnership for the fourth wicket before the latter was bowled by leg spinner Wanindu Hasaranga for 20 runs.
Photos: Launch of the SLC T20 League 2018
In the very next ball, Shammu Ashan was trapped in front by Wanindu Hasaranga for a duck creating some pressure in the Colombo team dressing room. However, former Sri Lanka U-19 captain Kamindu Mendis held his nerve to guide his side to the victory in the 19th over making 23 runs off 22 balls.
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For the Dambulla Team, Wanindu Hasaranga was the pick of the bowlers picking up 3 scalps for 20 runs in his quota of 4 overs. With this victory, Colombo team tops the points table registering 3 wins out of 3 matches played so far in the tournament.
