All-round Hasaranga leads Falcons to massive victory over Sixers

COLOMBO: Wanindu Hasaranga took a four-fer after brisk half-centuries from Andre Fletcher and Kamindu Mendis to propel Kandy Falcons to a thumping 54-run victory over Dambulla Sixers in the 18th match of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024 here on Monday.

Chasing a daunting 223-run total, the Sixers could accumulate 168/9 despite a fighting half-century from Kusal Perera.

The Sixers were never in the hunt as they lost wickets at regular intervals while Perera did the majority of the fight single-handedly.

Perera waged a lone battle until he was dismissed by Hasaranga in the 15th over.

The opening batter smashed five fours and as many sixes on his way to top score for the Sixers with a 40-ball 74.

Mark Chapman, who scored 24 off 19 in the middle, was the next contributor to the Sixers’ pursuit.

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Hasaranga led the bowling charge for the Falcons with four wickets, followed by Dasun Shanaka with three while Mohammad Hasnain and Chaturanga de Silva made one scalp each.

Earlier, the Falcons registered a massive total of 222/4 on the board, courtesy of Fletcher’s fifty and an unbeaten partnership between Mendis and Angelo Mathews.

Fletcher carried his bat till the 13th over and returned with top-scoring for the Falcons with a quickfire. His 34-ball knock featured one four and seven sixes.

Following his dismissal, Mendis joined forces with Mathews and added an unbeaten 95 runs to the total.

Mendis returned undefeated with a 24-ball 51 while Mathews made 44 not out in 23 balls.

Dushan Hemantha was the pick of the bowlers for the Sixers with 3/14 in his four overs.

The 54-run victory lifted Kandy Falcons to the fifth spot in the LPL 2024 standings with six points, two clear of rock-bottom Dambulla Sixers.

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