Mendis shines for Dambulla in high-scoring game
Colombo Strikers fell short by 10 runs against Dambulla Aura as they conceded their second defeat in the season in their third match of the Lanka Premier League at the Pallekele Stadium last evening. Chasing 193 to win, Strikers were restricted to 182 for the loss of four wickets despite Nuwanidu Fernando and Chamika Karunaratne fighting till the end.
Fernando remained unbeaten on 56 off 39 balls with four boundaries and as many sixes while Karunaratne made 20 off just seven balls with two fours and as many sixes. After skipper Niroshan Dickwella departed for 16 in just the ninth ball of the match, star batter Babar Azam (41) and Pathum Nissanka (22) shared 62 runs for the second wicket. Babar Azam was trapped leg-before by Noor Ahmed.
However, it was Kusal Mendis and Sadeeera Samarawickrema second wicket stand that stood out. After big-hitting Avishka Fernando went cheaply in the fifth over of the match, Mendis and Samarawickrema consolidated the innings initially before pressing the paddle in the middle overs to get themselves into an imposing total.
Mendis reached his 50 in 30 balls with two boundaries and five sixes and hit three more sixes and two more boundaries when he was finally removed by Naseem Shah in the 16th over. He was particularly ruthless against medium pacer Karaunartne and spinner Mohammed Nawaz who conceded 55 and 37 runs respectively.
Karunaratne finally bowled Samarawickrema for 59 runs which came off from 35 balls with seven boundaries and a six. Bearing Matheesha Pathirana and Shah all other bowlers were taken to cleaners by the batters.
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