Kandy Falcons vs Colombo Strikers Match 7 Match Commentary: Lanka Premier League, 2024

7.07pm  Right then, that is it from our coverage of Match number 7 of the 2024 Lanka Premier League where Colombo Strikers have won an agonizingly close contest against Kandy Falcons. It is a double-header Saturday in the LPL and up next, Dambulla Sixers will be taking on Jaffna KIngs at the very same venue at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). You can simply switch tabs and tune in to our build-up of that clash right away. Cheers!

7.04pm  Thisara Perera, the captain of Colombo Strikers says that it was almost a heartbreaking moment at the death as he bowled just the solo over but his teammates had faith in him. Adds that he had some issues and couldn't bowl much but managed to scrape through at the end.

7.04pm  The skipper of Kandy Falcons, Wanindu Hasaranga says that credit goes to the top order who batted well and overall it was a fantastic game. Reckons the wicket was good and 190-plus was chasable but could have bowled better as a bowling unit.

7.03pm  Matheesha Pathirana is the Player of the Match for his stellar four-wicket haul. Pathirana says that he was a bit under pressure as it was a good wicket to bat on and he just tried to not give away runs in that 17th over and got wickets as a bonus. Ends by saying that he enjoys bowling at the death.

7.03pm  The presentation ceremony...

6.57pm  Kandy Falcons will be gutted with how this game ended and have now lost back-to-back games. It was a steep target to chase down but given how the pitch played, it was gettable as well. Dinesh Chandimal got a life really early on but couldn't capitalize and was dismissed soon after. Andre Fletcher and Mohammad Haris played some aggressive cricket and rode their luck a bit before finally getting into their groove. Haris brought up a really quick Fifty before getting out and Fletcher soon followed suit a few runs shy of his half-century. Things looked bleak for Kandy but Kamindu Mendis played a blinder of a knock and should have probably been a bit smarter and rotated strike better once the run rate was under control. Angelo Mathews was the lone warrior towards the end and almost pulled off the unthinkable in the final over but it was just a bridge too far.

6.52pm  ARE YOU NOT ENTERTAINED? One of the all-time great Lanka Premier League matches and in the second half of the chase, the momentum simply kept shifting over after over but eventually, Colombo Strikers just had enough runs on the board and will be thankful for Matheesha Pathirana who stepped up big time for his side. After having put on 199 big runs on the board, Colombo Strikers needed early wickets to set the tone and they did get one wicket but couldn't do much more. They allowed the second-wicket stand to brew and even when it looked like Chamika Karunaratne had pulled off one of the all-time great catches, the third umpire deemed it as Not Out and the Strikers kept on conceding runs. Matheesha Pathirana and Shadab Khan came back in to dismiss both set batters but were again put on the back foot when young Garuka Sanketh conceded 22 runs. Pathirana went from strength to strength as he pulled out a three-wicket over and that really shifted momentum in the Strikers favor.

OUT! RUN OUT! Redemption for Thisara Perera and he has managed to take his team over the line right at the end. After getting pummeled on the last three deliveries, Perera still is brave enough to look for the yorker and this time, he nails it in the blockhole around off. Angelo Mathews cannot get under it and jams it to the left of the bowler before setting off for the single. Perera collects the ball and runs towards the stumps at the bowler's end before scoring a direct hit and Colombo Strikers win an enthralling contest by 2 runs.
Angelo Mathews run out (Thisara Perera) 33 (14b 4x4 2x6)