Get Ball by Ball Commentary of B-Love Kandy vs Dambulla Sixers, Lanka Premier League 2023, 6th Match

That's it from this match but the action comes thick and fast in LPL. There's another game set to get underway in less than an hour between Galle Titans and Jaffna Kings. From me (Rvel Zahid), it's goodbye and have a very good Friday all of you!

Kandy secured their first points on the board with a comprehensive victory over Dambulla. In their previous encounter with Galle, they were up against the wall, but the addition of Fakhar Zaman and a change of venue has turned their fortunes around.

Fakhar and Chandimal gave them a solid start, setting the tone for the chase. Mathews ensured a smooth finish without any hiccups, struck some meaty blows to seal the game in style. Asif Ali launched a few balls out of the park and did exactly what he was expected to do. On the contrary, Dambulla were scruffy in the field, missing out on run-out chances and spraying a barrage of wides that didn't help their cause. Dhananjaya was brilliant though; he made a staggering 61-run-knock, albeit for a losing cause, and then snared Fakhar Zaman with his canny off-spin. Hayden Kerr bowled an economical spell too with some terrific yorkers and got the wicket of Mendis while Noor kept a lid on the score but remained wicketless. Shahnawaz Dahani was was the most expensive of the lot and his bouncers were off the target.

Kusal Mendis, Dambulla Aura: We lost early wickets and were 20 runs short maybe. First 6 loves, the wicket was a little bit hard, then Avishaka played normal game. But unfortunately, I got out earlier so we struggled there.

Wanindu Hasaranga, B-Love Kandy Captain: Especially in this kind of wicket, bowlers really bowled well. We should respect Fakhar because he arrived in the afternoon yesterday and played today. If you see our bowlers, we have good wicket-taking bowlers, myself, Mujeeb, Dushmantha, Udana and Hasnain. That's why were are always looking for wickets.

18.3

Shahnawaz Dahani to Asif Ali, FOUR, There you go! Another short delivery on off, he rocks back and biffs a pull to backward square boundary and powers them to a resounding victory with 8 balls to spare, Mathews punches the air in ecstasy, it was a very fluent knock

Thilini: "Why would Mendis bring in Dahani, who has been very expensive, when even DDS has an over left?"

Gune: " Give chance to Sahan Archchige instead Kamidu Mendis"

18.3

Shahnawaz Dahani to Asif Ali, 1 wide, Dishes out a wide away from the guideline on leg stump, so just one away from a convincing win

18.2

Shahnawaz Dahani to Mathews, 1 run, On a length and gets a hint of wobble outside off, makes room and guides it to sweeper for a run

18.1

Shahnawaz Dahani to Mathews, SIX, Round the wicket, a touch short and slanting across off, he clears his front leg and hauls it away over midwicket for a six! That was absolutely leathered!

END OF OVER:
18 | 6 Runs | BLK: 148/3 (9 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.22, RRR: 4.50)

Asif Ali12 (7b)
Angelo Mathews21 (18b)

Hayden Kerr4-0-28-1
Binura Fernando3-0-21-0

17.6

Kerr to Asif Ali, no run, Another marvelous pin-point yorker on middle, he jams his bat down and digs it out to the bowler

17.5

Kerr to Mathews, 1 run, Prodded down past mid-off and gallops across to the other end

17.4

Kerr to Asif Ali, 1 run, Nails a perfect yorker and somehow he manages to dig it out to point and then pinches a run, he rockets a throw at non-striker's end and it's not quite spot on

17.4

Kerr to Asif Ali, 1 wide, Length and swirling away outside off away from the tramline

17.3

Kerr to Mathews, 1 run, Goes full and gets a hint of away seam movement, inside edge onto the pad, ricochets to the on side as they hurtle for a run

17.2

Kerr to Asif Ali, 1 run, Nails a good yorker and he shuffles across a touch and then knocks it down to long on for a run

17.1

Kerr to Mathews, 1 run, Slower one on a length just outside off, spanked across the line to square of midwicket

END OF OVER:
17 | 13 Runs | BLK: 142/3 (15 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.35, RRR: 5.00)

Asif Ali10 (4b)
Angelo Mathews18 (15b)

Binura Fernando3-0-21-0
Hayden Kerr3-0-22-1

16.6

B Fernando to Asif Ali, FOUR, Smites powerfully to bisect fielder at off and away she whistles to the boundary. Asif Ali is trying to make sure there are no hiccups in this straightforward chase

16.5

B Fernando to Mathews, 1 run, Fuller and angling across off, plants his backleg deep in his crease and then generates a lot of power while driving it away into the covers

16.4

B Fernando to Asif Ali, 1 bye, Well-disguised slower on a length outside off, goes past whizzing the edge but they sneak a bye

16.3

B Fernando to Asif Ali, FOUR, Dug in short on off, stays back, waits patiently and then carts it aerially to deep square boundary, one bounce over the rope. Pace off the ball but he judged it well and went a step back in his crease to open the leg side. Quality shot

16.2

B Fernando to Asif Ali, 2 runs, Just short of a length on off, rocks back and blasts a pull to deep midwicket

16.1

B Fernando to Mathews, 1 run, Short of a length slammed into the pitch and follows the batter who was stepping away to the leg side, opens the face and steers it away past point

END OF OVER:
16 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | BLK: 129/3 (28 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 8.06, RRR: 7.00)

Angelo Mathews16 (13b)

Hayden Kerr3-0-22-1
Noor Ahmad4-0-26-0

15.6

Kerr to Mendis, OUT, Good length hoping in and he slaps it back to Kerr who takes a blinder in his follow-through! He is pumped up, clearly the standout bowler for Dambulla today. Mendis departs for 18. A couple of wickets could make this an interesting contest but with no asking rate pressure, it's Kandy's game to lose

PHKD Mendis c & b Kerr 18 (28b 1x4 0x6) SR: 64.28

Kandy INNINGS		R	B
Fakhar Zaman	caught	28	26
LD Chandimal	run out	48	29
PHKD Mendis	caught	18	28
AD Mathews	not out	28	20
Asif Ali	not out	16	8
KNA Bandara
PWH de Silva
PVD Chameera
Mohammad Hasnain
I Udana
Mujeeb Ur Rahman
EXTRAS	(b 5, lb 1, w 16)
TOTAL	160 (3 wkts; 18.3 ovs)

Aura BOWLING	O	R	W	Econ
B Fernando	3.0	21	0	7.00
DM de Silva	3.0	16	1	5.33
Shahnawaz Dahani	3.3	46	0	13.14	(2w)
RS Fernando	1.0	17	0	17.00
H Kerr	4.0	28	1	7.00	(1w)
Noor Ahmad	4.0	26	0	6.50	(4w)

Wkt	Runs	Players
1st	69	LD Chandimal	Fakhar Zaman
2nd	30	LD Chandimal	PHKD Mendis
3rd	30	AD Mathews	PHKD Mendis
4th	31	AD Mathews	Asif Ali

Team	M	W	L	PT	NRR
DAT	8	6	2	12	0.793
GAM	8	4	4	8	0.353
BLK	8	4	4	8	0.185
JK	8	3	5	6	-0.179
CLS	8	3	5	6	-1.215

END OF OVER:18 | 6 Runs | BLK: 148/3 (9 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.22, RRR: 4.50)

END OF OVER:17 | 13 Runs | BLK: 142/3 (15 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.35, RRR: 5.00)

END OF OVER:16 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | BLK: 129/3 (28 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 8.06, RRR: 7.00)

END OF OVER:
18 | 6 Runs | BLK: 148/3 (9 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.22, RRR: 4.50)

END OF OVER:
17 | 13 Runs | BLK: 142/3 (15 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 8.35, RRR: 5.00)

END OF OVER:
16 | 6 Runs 1 Wkt | BLK: 129/3 (28 runs required from 24 balls, RR: 8.06, RRR: 7.00)