Hasaranga heroics steer B-Love Kandy to LPL final
An allround performance by skipper Wanindu Hasaranga paved the way for B-Love Kandy to record a comfortable 34 runs win over Galle Titans in the Qualifier 2 encounter of the Lanka Premier League played at under floodlights at the R. Premadasa Stadium which ensured them the second slot to the final and to battle it out against Dambulla Aura scheduled to be played at the same venue from 7.30p.m. today.
Skipper Hasaranga first came to the rescue of his when it mattered most with his first effort being when his side was in dire straits he lifted them to make a challenging score and later he did not take the field when the B-Love Kandy came into defend their score but came back to grab two crucial wickets to have Galle Titans struggling for survival.
Electing to bat first, B-Love Kandy posted 157 for the loss of seven wickets, but chasing a gettable target, Galle Titans were restricted at 123 for 8,
falling behind by 35 runs off the
victory target.
Skipper Hasaranga led the foundation to a decent total with a quick 48 off 30 deliveries inclusive of three boundaries and four sixes, and returned to capture two wickets to seal his side’s victory. This was after Kandy lost three early wickets at 20 by the fifth over. Hasaranga and his senior comrade Dinesh Chandimal got together to add 72 runs for the fourth wicket, before he departed at 92.
Chandimal made 38 runs off 37 deliveries inclusive of three fours and a six, before Angelo Mathews joined the bandwagon to score a 17-ball 24, inclusive of two fours and a six.
Galle Titans used seven bowlers, but only LPL debutant Sonal Dinusha took the spotlight claiming two wickets alongside seasoned campaigner Lahiru Kumara, who also grabbed two scalps.
Dinusha again became the spotlight, becoming the top scorer of the Galle Titan’s innings while others failed to impress. Coming in the middle, he patiently faced 32 balls to make 28, hitting just a six, while others fell apart. Opener Litton Das cracked 25 off 19 deliveries with four boundaries, but Galle Titans were made to struggle and defend as they lost wickets at regular intervals.
Mohammed Hasnain, Chathuranga de Silva and skipper Hasaranga claimed two wickets apiece.
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