LPL
Mustafizur's Dambulla suffer defeat against Kandy in LPL opener
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Kandy Falcons defeated Dambulla Sixers by six wickets in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) opener at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy.
Kandy Falcons achieved their highest successful run chase with the help of Dinesh Chandimal and Dasun Shanaka's batting.
Nuwan Thushara dismissed Fletcher for a golden duck in the first over. Mustafizur Rahman also took a wicket off his first ball, getting rid of Mohammad Haris.
Chandimal and Kamindu Mendis added 56 runs for the 3rd wicket, with Mendis reaching his fifty in 29 balls. Chandimal scored 65 off 40 balls before getting out to Akila Dananjaya.
Angelo Mathews and Dasun Shanaka then led the Falcons to victory with a 72-run partnership off just 26 balls.
Shanaka's 46-run knock included 3 fours and 5 sixes, while Mathews remained unbeaten on 37 off 20 balls. The home team reached the target in 17.2 overs, with Shanaka named Player of the Match for his performance.
Batting first, Dambulla posted 179-4 in 20 overs. Danishka Gunathilaka and Kusal Perera opened the innings, but Dasun Shanaka quickly took out the Sixers' top order, reducing them to 25/4 in 4.1 overs.
Mark Chapman and Chamindu Wickramasinghe then put on a remarkable fightback, setting a record-breaking 5th wicket partnership in LPL history with an unbroken 154-run stand in 99 deliveries.
Chapman had a memorable LPL debut, scoring an unbeaten 91 off 61 balls with 8 fours & 4 sixes. Wickramasinghe also impressed with an unbeaten 62 off 42 balls, including 4 fours & 3 sixes.
Towhid Hridoy failed to impress in his LPL debut for Dambulla, scored just one run.
Shanaka finished with figures of 3/20 in his 4-over spell, while Mohammad Hasnain picked up the other wicket, conceding 53 runs.