13/12Result
12th Match (N), Lanka Premier League at Kandy, Dec 13 2022
Stars won by 2 wkts (0b rem)
Player of the Match
Ravi Bopara
Ravi BoparaColombo Strikers
13/12Result
12th Match (N), Lanka Premier League at Kandy, Dec 13 2022
Stars won by 2 wkts (0b rem)
Player of the Match
Ravi Bopara
Ravi BoparaColombo Strikers

END OF OVER:
20 | 11 Runs 2 Wkts | CLS: 197/8 | RR: 9.85

  • Ravi Bopara31 (12b)
  • Kasun Rajitha1 (1b)
  • Anwar Ali4-0-44-3
  • Wahab Riaz4-0-61-1

11:35pm Right. That will be a wrap from us for tonight. A wonderful game to cap off what was another thrilling day of action in the LPL. Tomorrow, we will return with a top of the table clash between the Jaffna Kings and the Kandy Falcons. Until then, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of everyone. Goodbye, goodnight and take care!

Angelo Mathews, Colombo Stars captain: It was a bit of a challenge, playing four days in a row - both physically and mentally. The boys responded well. We gave away 20-25 runs too many in the field but we caught up with the bat. (On the dew) It adds up to the pressure. It is draining as well and once the seam gets wet, it is extremely hard to grip the ball. Our bowlers did well and our batters backed it up brilliantly. (On if they have found the right batting order) I think so. Chandimal has been batting brilliantly. Since I came down the order, we had the option of Chandimal at the top of the order and it has worked.

Kusal Mendis, the losing captain says that if they did not make as many mistakes with the bat, they would have had more runs to defend and that that could have helped with all the dew around.

Ravi Bopara, Player of the Match: The platform was set. We had to go at 12-13 so there was only one way to go. I thought it was always within our reach. Wahab is one of the best death bowlers in the world but it was one of those days. It was our day today. Angi messaged me this morning. I was not feeling well this morning. He said he needed me today. At 12, I felt good and then I played.

Let's hear from the post-match presentation!

11:25pm Phew, that was some game. It ebbed and flowed, and in the end, the Stars held their nerve for long enough to emerge victorious. Much of the credit has to go to Chandimal, who blazed away at the top. Asalanka held things together in the middle, and was supported by useful cameos lower down the order by Howell, Prasanna and the wily Bopara.

The Gladiators, on the other hand, would be ruing how they let the game get away towards the end. Bowling with a damp ball was never going to be easy but having gotten into a situation where Colombo needed 40 off 3 overs, Galle would have fancied their chances. Nevertheless, this was a fixture that could have gone either way and the Gladiators would ideally want to take out the relevant positives from this encounter and move forward.

19.6
4
Anwar Ali to Bopara, FOUR, Bopara wins it for the Stars! Short and outside off stump. In many ways, that is just what Bopara is waiting for. He has a swipe at it and plunders it over mid wicket to seal a thrilling two-wicket win for the Stars!
19.5
1
Anwar Ali to Rajitha, 1 run, back of a length delivery just outside off stump. Rajitha drops it into the leg side and scrambles across to the other end. Bopara backed up quite a bit, it seemed

Rajitha in at 10. 2 off 2 needed now. Surely he has to look for the single?

19.4
W
Anwar Ali to Lakshan, OUT, another bites the dust! The Gladiators are not going anywhere! Short delivery outside off stump again. Lakshan has another swipe at it and this time, slices it straight to deep backward square leg. But hang on, looks like the umpires want to check if this one is above the shoulder. Looks alright to me, and the umpire agrees! Lakshan has to walk back

M Lakshan c Sandakan b Anwar Ali 0 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

2 off 3 now. The Gladiators are not yet out of it

19.3
0
Anwar Ali to Lakshan, no run, another short delivery outside off stump. Lakshan jumps up into the air and swishes at it, only to connect with fresh air

Muditha Lakshan is the new batter at the crease

19.2
W
Anwar Ali to Prasanna, OUT, and Prasanna departs now! More drama at Pallekele! Dug into the track outside off stump. Prasanna looks to end it with one blow but this one gets a little too big on him. He also has to fetch it, meaning that he splices it towards deep mid wicket, where the fielder holds onto a pressure catch

S Prasanna c Asad Shafiq b Anwar Ali 14 (6b 0x4 2x6) SR: 233.33

Two to get now

19.1
6
Anwar Ali to Prasanna, SIX, six more, the Stars are coasting now! In the slot and that flies into the stands! Prasanna sits deep in his crease and wallops it over long off

Right. Only eight runs needed off the final over now. Surely the Stars will not botch this up? Anwar Ali with the final over

Getafix: "THIS is going to be a 20 run over turning the game on its head" -- Looks like it, right now

END OF OVER:
19 | 22 Runs | CLS: 186/6 (8 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 9.78, RRR: 8.00)

  • Ravi Bopara27 (11b)
  • Seekkuge Prasanna8 (4b)
  • Wahab Riaz4-0-61-1
  • Nuwan Thushara4-0-29-3
18.6
6
Wahab Riaz to Bopara, SIX, colossal! Slower delivery that lands right in the slot on off stump. Bopara clears his front leg and absolutely smokes it over deep mid wicket
18.5
1
Wahab Riaz to Prasanna, 1 run, very full delivery outside off stump. Prasanna hangs deep in his crease and drills it towards long off. The fielder misfields but the batters do not capitalise
18.4
1
Wahab Riaz to Bopara, 1 run, safe! Slower delivery on a full length outside off stump. Bopara has a slog at it and skies it towards long off. The fielder has all the time in the world to get under it but decides to bail out at the last moment. Wahab is not pleased.
18.3
4
Wahab Riaz to Bopara, FOUR, four, oh dear! Slower delivery that ends up being a half-tracker. Bopara has a swing at it and heaves it towards deep square leg. Dabare runs around the fence first, and then decides to go for the catch. In the end, the ball bounces in front of him and bobbles into the fence
18.3
1w
Wahab Riaz to Bopara, 1 wide, dug into the track at the batter on middle and leg stump. Bopara can't get bat on it because the ball balloons over his head. Called a wide

21 off 10. Wahab feeling the pinch now

18.2
4
Wahab Riaz to Bopara, FOUR, full delivery speared outside off stump. Bopara gives himself room, opens his bat face and steers it past the keeper for another boundary

25 off 11 now. Can Bopara get a few more boundaries away? He will enjoy the extra pace

18.1
4
Wahab Riaz to Bopara, FOUR, shot! In the slot on middle and leg stump. Bopara stands still and shovels it just past the sweeper at long on for a boundary!
18.1
1w
Wahab Riaz to Bopara, 1 wide, wayward delivery well outside off stump. Left alone by Bopara and called a wide

Wahab to bowl the penultimate over

END OF OVER:
18 | 10 Runs 1 Wkt | CLS: 164/6 (30 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 9.11, RRR: 15.00)

  • Ravi Bopara8 (6b)
  • Seekkuge Prasanna7 (3b)
  • Nuwan Thushara4-0-29-3
  • Wahab Riaz3-0-39-1
17.6
1
Thushara to Bopara, 1 run, off-pace delivery on a back of a length on off stump. Bopara waits in his crease and drags it towards deep square leg for a single
17.5
1
Thushara to Prasanna, 1 run, length delivery outside off stump. Prasanna plants his front foot and drills it down the ground towards long off
17.4
6
Thushara to Prasanna, SIX, what a shot! Slower delivery outside off stump that sits up to be hit. Prasanna winds up and clatters it over the fielder at long off
17.3
2b
Thushara to Prasanna, 2 byes, short delivery outside off stump. Prasanna has a hack across the line and misses. Mendis, though, also botches his collection and concedes a couple of runs

Prasanna is the new man in

17.2
W
Thushara to Mathews, OUT, holes out to long on, massive moment in the game! Full delivery outside off stump. Mathews sits back in his crease and tries to smack it over long on. The length, though, is too full to get the requisite elevation. In the end, he arrows it straight to Anwar at long on, who gobbles up the chance!

AD Mathews c Anwar Ali b Thushara 7 (12b 0x4 0x6) SR: 58.33

17.1
0
Thushara to Mathews, no run, slower delivery on a length outside off stump. Mathews comes half forward and taps it back to the bowler

That 10-run over has taken the required run rate up to more than 13 per over. A 15-16 run-over, though, would again tilt the game in the Stars' favour. Thushara to bowl out

END OF OVER:
17 | 10 Runs | CLS: 154/5 (40 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 9.05, RRR: 13.33)

  • Ravi Bopara7 (5b)
  • Angelo Mathews7 (10b)
  • Wahab Riaz3-0-39-1
  • Nuwan Thushara3-0-21-2
16.6
0
Wahab Riaz to Bopara, no run, very full delivery just outside off stump. Bopara throws his hands at it but is late on the stroke as the ball sneaks past the flailing bat
16.5
1
Wahab Riaz to Mathews, 1 run, back of a length delivery way outside off stump. Mathews backs away too much and can only chalk it into the off side for a single
16.4
1
Wahab Riaz to Bopara, 1 run, back of a length delivery on middle and off stump. Bopara drops the ball into the off side before strolling across to the other end
16.4
1w
Wahab Riaz to Bopara, 1 wide, slower delivery that goes awry and goes beyond the tramlines on the off side. Left alone by Bopara and called a wide by the umpire

Third man is up in the circle now

16.3
2
Wahab Riaz to Bopara, 2 runs, back of a length delivery just outside off stump. Bopara goes back and guides the ball past backward point for a couple of runs

Stars 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st3LD ChandimalN Dickwella
2nd92LD ChandimalKIC Asalanka
3rd26AD MathewsKIC Asalanka
4th0AD MathewsDC Drakes
5th23AD MathewsBAC Howell
6th10RS BoparaAD Mathews
7th38RS BoparaS Prasanna
8th0RS BoparaM Lakshan
9th5RS BoparaCAK Rajitha