07/08Result
10th Match, Lanka Premier League at Kandy, Aug 7 2023
Colombo won by 7 wkts (1b rem)
Player of the Match
Babar Azam
Babar AzamColombo Strikers
07/08Result
10th Match, Lanka Premier League at Kandy, Aug 7 2023
Colombo won by 7 wkts (1b rem)
Player of the Match
Babar Azam
Babar AzamColombo Strikers

It was an absolute pleasure bringing you the commentary of this exhilarating affair and witnessing a staggering century from Babar Azam with all of you. Until we meet next time, it's goodbye from me, Rvel Zahid. There is another game about to get underway between Dambulla Aura and Jaffna Kings. Do hop over to our coverage for that match https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/lanka-premier-league-2023-1382875/dambulla-aura-vs-jaffna-kings-11th-match-1382888/live-cricket-score

Once again, it was another knock from Babar Azam that exuded elegance and nonchalance right from the powerplay. Babar delivered a masterclass and entertained the crowd royally at Pallekele, regaling millions who were glued to their television sets in Pakistan, along with all of his fans who admire his prowess with the bat. In the end, it turned out to be a riveting cat-and-mouse battle. Although Babar lost his wicket at a crucial juncture, his trusted pal Mohammad Nawaz ensured that his national team's skipper's marathon innings didn't go to waste. A timely six and a four sealed the game.

Babar Azam is second on the list of players with the most centuries in T20 cricket and second only to score 10 hundreds. He is behind the great Chris Gayle, who boasts an impressive 22 tons.

Babar Azam, Player of the Match: We started off well, Later we tried to manage the run rate. I thought 190 to 200 was a good score. Credit to the bowlers, they came back after the 12th over. I was trying to build a partnership and play long and deep. Today, it was a much better wicket.

Dasun Shanaka, Galle Titans Captain: Great game of cricket, we got a start but couldn't capitalize. For me, it was a 200 plus wicket but we lost momentum along the way. We could have changed the team but we believe in our youngsters and hope to continue with them. We gave a few runs easily and dropped a few chances, that's an area that needs to be improved.

Niroshan Dickwella, Colombo Strikers Captain: First of all thanks to my lord, it was so so close. Today from the toss, we made a good collective decision to bowl. At this ground, I don't think any team did good because of tricky outfield and we dropped a few catches. There is a split in my ribs, but I didn't want to leave my teammates out there and wanted to play...we did well as a team. These things happen because Shamsi was bowling, he is a world class bowler, we knw we had wickets in hand, we knew we could win it...we have room to improve.

The night belongs to Babar Azam who is the main protagonist of today's win. It went right down to the wire as Nawaz showed nerves of steel in the end and got the better of Rajitha in the last over. This is the third highest chase at Pallekele and as a result of this win, Colombo have climbed up to the third spot on the table.

19.5
4
Rajitha to Mohammad Nawaz, FOUR, No way! Slams it away for a four! Colombo Strikers have won this cliffhanger! A touch too full and he sits deep in his crease, slugs it away past deep midwicket and punches the air in delight! Nawaz has played a blinder and the entire team is euphoric! It's been a brilliant run-chase set up by the man, the myth, the legend - Babar Azam!

Adnankapri: "Brilliant hundred by Babar and extraordinary finish by M Nawaz, Loving from Pakistan."

Ahmad : "Can we have Babar dropping lollipops every match?"

Jawad: "Dont mind me but this match has been Lanka Pakistan league!!!"

Jawad: "Only one man, Dickwella is to be blamed for Strikers defeat (if it happens). Not sending ideal batsman at the end is something of an alarming decision "

Ben: "What a knock by Babar but cranky sending Fernando in, he's been in awful form, cost them the game"

Edhi: "Last Over 14 runs required.... Can be Tricky..."

AB: "Important is to see if Strikers have learnt from their mistakes or not...Few dot balls here and there costed them game and it is heading towards the same again...

19.4
6
Rajitha to Mohammad Nawaz, SIX, HEAVED IT FOR A SIX! Oh my goodness, are you kidding me? He dishes out a rank full toss on off and he just got enough to clear the sweeper cover fielder. 4 off 2!
19.3
2
Rajitha to Mohammad Nawaz, 2 runs, Pummeled away to mid-off who fumbles and they scamper back for the second run. Will it be another Super Over? 10 off 3. Which way are the scales going to tip?
19.2
2
Rajitha to Mohammad Nawaz, 2 runs, Spears in on a full-length just outside off, carved away to deep cover and the couple hustles and bustles for a couple of runs
19.1
W
Rajitha to Babar Azam, OUT, Holes out to long-off! Bit of an anticlimactic end to an otherwise superb knock! Tossed up fuller outside off, just couldn't get underneath it, got toe-end of the bat and Strikers are in deep trouble now. Set batter is back in the hut

Babar Azam c Shakib Al Hasan b Rajitha 104 (59b 8x4 5x6) SR: 176.27

Babar just the second to 10 T20 hundreds after Chris Gayle

END OF OVER:
19 | 7 Runs | CLS: 175/2 (14 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 9.21, RRR: 14.00)

  • Chamika Karunaratne2 (3b)
  • Babar Azam104 (58b)
  • Richard Ngarava4-0-40-0
  • Tabraiz Shamsi4-0-27-2
18.6
0
Ngarava to Karunaratne, no run, In the blockhole on off stump, tries to scythe that away past backward point, late in jamming his bat down and that's a precious dot!
18.5
1
Ngarava to Babar Azam, 1 run, Fuller length around off, pushed towards long-off for a run
18.4
4
Ngarava to Babar Azam, FOUR, Wow, just brilliant! Babar Azam gets to his hundred, that's a sublime century as he flicks this leg-side delivery past backward square. Take a bow, it has been an authoritative, well-paced and a brave century. It will be perfect for him and Strikers if he gets them over the line. Job is not done yet!
18.3
1
Ngarava to Karunaratne, 1 run, Chipped in the air and falls short of man at cover! That was slammed into the pitch and he got enough purchase, ugly hoick across the line and nearly lose his wicket
18.2
1
Ngarava to Babar Azam, 1 run, Sits deep in his crease and clonks it off the backfoot to deep midwicket. Is there going to be a twist in the tale?
18.1
0
Ngarava to Babar Azam, no run, Well-disguised slower shorter delivery in the channel, went for the late cut but only grabs fresh air

END OF OVER:
18 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | CLS: 168/2 (21 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 9.33, RRR: 10.50)

  • Babar Azam98 (54b)
  • Chamika Karunaratne1 (1b)
  • Tabraiz Shamsi4-0-27-2
  • Richard Ngarava3-0-33-0

AB: "Important is to see if Strikers have learnt from their mistakes or not...Few dot balls here and there costed them game and it is heading towards the same again..."

Maheesh: "This is very bad batting by Nuwanindu, just had to give strike to babar"

Jawad: "It was bizzare decision from colombo skipper to send a guy like fernando when you have Nawaz or Karunaratne for such occasions"

Mohyuddin: "Colombo team are badly relying on Babar. Other players should step up and deliver to ease some burden from Babar shoulders."

Teddy: "Babar you Legend "

Fahim: "The main reason for losing the match will be their fielding Galle Titans. Very bad fielding. "

Rajat: "Shanka is not utilizing his resources properly. nagarva is the best bowler he has in such situation" he is back

17.6
1
Shamsi to Babar Azam, 1 run, Oh that's a lovely legbreak fuller on off, he patiently maneuvers the ball into the covers and wants to keep the strike
17.5
1
Shamsi to Karunaratne, 1 run, Flighted delivery on middle, mows it downtown and long-on runs across to collect it on one bounce
17.4
W
Shamsi to Fernando, OUT, Holes out to long-on! He was looking to loft it straight down, but mistimes it straight to Shanaka in the deep, who makes no mistake. Lofts it straighter than he wanted to and couldn't get underneath it

MNK Fernando c Shanaka b Shamsi 8 (13b 0x4 0x6) SR: 61.53

17.3
0
Shamsi to Fernando, no run, That's a lovely googly on a length and it spins away viciously outside off, stays back and tries to muscle it over midwicket, beaten by the turn and bounce
17.2
0
Shamsi to Fernando, no run, Was getting into shape for a massive slog sweep but ends up wearing it on his pads
17.1
1
Shamsi to Babar Azam, 1 run, Turns it round the corner for a run

END OF OVER:
17 | 8 Runs | CLS: 165/1 (24 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 9.70, RRR: 8.00)

  • Babar Azam96 (52b)
  • Nuwanidu Fernando8 (10b)
  • Richard Ngarava3-0-33-0
  • Shakib Al Hasan4-0-30-0

AB: "Rvel, all blame to you. I closed the windows after Cricinfo showed Babar Azam to be the batsman dismissed. I came back to check and gosh missed 3 sixes from Babar..." I'm guilty

16.6
1
Ngarava to Babar Azam, 1 run, Firmly rooted on the backfoot and clonked away into the empty spaces at deep midwicket
16.5
2
Ngarava to Babar Azam, 2 runs, Another sloppy bit of work in the deep, blasted away to long-off and Shamsi is a bit late in his reaction and the ball skittles away from him
16.4
4
Ngarava to Babar Azam, FOUR, Another one shelled! A touch short and angling across off, he threw the kitchen sink at it, gets the toe-end of the bat and short third jumped, got his fingers on it but then parried it away into the deep
16.3
0
Ngarava to Babar Azam, no run, Dropped! That was hit hard right through the line and Ngarawa couldn't hang onto it in his follow-through, he has hurt his fingers in the process as well. Babar seems in a hurry to seal this game
16.2
1
Ngarava to Fernando, 1 run, Sprays it fuller just inside the tramline on off and he hacks it away off the backfoot to deep backward point

Colombo 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st111Babar AzamP Nissanka
2nd55Babar AzamMNK Fernando
3rd9Babar AzamC Karunaratne
4th14Mohammad Nawaz (3)C Karunaratne