DAMBULLA: Dinesh Chandimal’s swashbuckling half-century eclipsed Pathum Nissanka’s century and powered Kandy Falcons to a seven-wicket victory over Jaffna Kings in the 11th match of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024.
The Falcons had a mountain to climb as they needed to chase down a stiff total of 225 in the allotted 20 overs.
The defending champions, in the end, did so with relative ease as they only lost three wickets and amassed the total with 10 balls to spare.
Senior opening batter Dinesh Chandimal was the hero for the Falcons as he came out all guns blazing and set platform with belligerent hitting.
He smashed eight fours and seven sixes on his way to a 37-ball 89 before making his way back to the dugout in the 14th over with 164 runs on the board.
Chandimal was briefly supported by Andre Fletcher (13) and Mohammad Haris (25) amid his match-defining knock.
Following his dismissal, Kamindu Mendis took the reigns of the Falcons’ run-chase and scored a match-winning half-century.
Mendis played a pivotal role in the Falcons’ success with an unbeaten 65 off 36 balls, peppered with five fours and four sixes.
Veteran all-rounder Angelo Mathews played a helping hand with his quickfire cameo. He scored a 13-ball 29, hitting two fours and as many sixes.
Tabraiz Shamsi bagged two wickets for the Kings while Pramod Madushan claimed one.
Earlier after being put into bat first, the Kings notched up a mammoth total of 223/7 on the board, courtesy of Pathum Nissanka’s ton.
The young opener went after the Falcons’ bowlers from the word go and carried on till his departure in the 18th over.
Nissanka top-scored for the Kings with 119 off just 59 deliveries with the help of 16 fours and four sixes.
Wicketkeeper batter Kusal Mendis (26) and Rilee Rossouw (41 off 18) supported Nissanka with notable contributions.
Dasun Shanaka was the pick of the bowlers for the Falcons with 3/40 in his four overs, followed by Ramesh Mendis and Dushmantha Chameera, picking up two each.
The seven-wicket victory took Kandy Falcons to the fourth in the LPL 2024 standings with four points in five matches while Jaffna Kings remained second with six points in as many matches.
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