Shakib al Hasan starred in Galle Titan's 87-run win against B-Love Kandy in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Tuesday.
Galle skittle out Kandy on 97 runs in 17.1 overs while defending 181-run target, thanks to the spinner Shakib al Hasan who picked up two wickets after contributing 30 runs. Ashen Bandara was the highest run-scorer for Kandy with 27 runs. Earlier, Tim sheifer struck 74 runs off 39 deliveries that featured five 4's and five sixes and Shakib played 21-ball 30 innings aided by two sixes.
In another match, Dambulla Aura thrash Jaffna Kings by eight wickets at R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo on Tuesday. Avishka Fernando smashed a brute half-century which propelled Dambulla to chase down the target of 130 runs at ease in 16.2 overs.
Avishka played a swashbuckling 32-ball 52 aided by six boundaries and three sixes while opener Kusal Mendis hit 29 in 23 balls by hitting four 4's and a six. Kusal Perera played a knock of 34 runs in just 22 balls smashing three 4's and a couple of sixes.
Earlier opting to bat, opener Charith Asalanka scored a cautious fifty to help Jaffna post 129 runs in the allotted 20 overs. Jaffna lost their opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz for a mere 14 runs within the first powerplay. Then, Towhid Haridoy and Asalanka added a 55-run partnership for the second wicket that aided them trail back to the game. Hridoy who scored a half-century in the last match, unfortunately got dismissed by Dhananjaya De Silva after scoring 24 runs off 20 balls. Hridoy attempted to toss the ball around the mid-wicket but was caught by Alex Ross. Asalanka kept his willow on and completed his half-century with the assistance of David Miller. The left-handed batter played the crucial knock of 56 off 52, which featured five 4’s and a solitary six while Miller out for 14 runs. Binura Fernando struck twice while others took one wicket each for Dambulla.
