ABU DHABI: Chamika Karunaratne picked up three wickets followed by an unbeaten half-century by Kusal Perera, which guided New York Strikers to an eight-wicket win over Bangla Tigers in the fifth Abu Dhabi T10 League match at Sheikh Zayed Cricket Stadium.
Strikers after opting to bowl first inflicted early damage to the Tigers as Muhammad Jawadullah bowled Chris Lynn on the third ball of the innings.
However, Jordan Cox and Kusal Mendis knitted a counter-attacking 59-run partnership in 24 balls to push the total to 61 before Cox was also bowled by Jawadullah.
Jordan Cox played a quick cameo of 37 runs from 17 balls laced with six boundaries and one six.
Mendis also followed his partner to the dugout in the next over after scoring 29 off 12.
Bangla Tigers could not recover from the back-to-back wickets and kept losing wickets swiftly as only three batters managed to reach double figures.
Chamika Karunaratne picked two wickets in the final over to restrict Bangla Tigers to 101-7 in 10 overs.
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In response, New York Strikers lost their opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz in the second over, but Muhammad Waseem and Kusal Perera kept them in the hunt.
The two batters added 58 runs from 28 balls Benny Howell castled Waseem to break the stand.
Waseem departed after scoring a 22-ball 41 featuring five boundaries and two sixes.
Perera remained firm and helped his team reach the finish line with 14 balls to spare, courtesy of his unbeaten knock of 50 runs from 20 balls.
Daniel Sams and Howell picked one wicket each for the Tigers.