‘Boring match dono team qualified’ – Fans react as Dambulla Aura beat B-Love Kandy by 20 runs in LPL 2023

The 19^th match of the ongoing Lanka Premier League 2023 pitted the Dambulla Aura against the B-Love Kandy. It was a clash between the top 2 in the standings and did not have much consequence as both teams had confirmed their qualification in the Playoffs before the match even begin. B-Love Kandy won the toss and elected to field first. Guided by a 61-run opening stand between Avishka Fernando and Sadeera Samarawickrama, the Auras reached 162/7 that proved to be a good-enough total.

Fernando went on to score 41 off 27, including three fours and three sixes while Samarawickrama added 31 off 26, including six fours. Ben McDermott scored 37 off 23, including three fours and two sixes while Hayden Kerr added 26 off 16 to summarize the key contributions. As far as Kandy’s bowling is concerned, Nuwan Pradeep remained the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/35 in four overs. Mujeeb Ur Rahman returned with 2/32 in four overs while Wanindu Hasaranga and Chaturanga de Silva scalped one wicket each.

Dhananjaya de Silva was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’

Kandy’s reply saw them manage just 142 runs before being bowled out with two balls to spare in their quota of 20 overs. They lost both their openers cheaply but were rescued by Dinesh Chandimal’s half-century at number three. He slammed 50 off 46 including six fours. Skipper Hasaranga scored 19 off 11 with two fours and a six while Angelo Mathews scored 26 off 15 with two fours and one six. Finally, Isuru Udana added 23 off 21 down the order with two fours and a six. These four were the only batters to score in double figures.

Talking of the bowling from Dambulla Aura, Dhanajaya de Silva returned with figures of 4/6 in his two overs and was awarded the ‘Player of the Match’ for his spectacular display. Pramod Madushan scalped two while Shahnawaz Dahani, Hayden Kerr and Sachitha Jayatilake scapled one wicket each. Just one league stage game remains in the LPL 2023 now between Colombo Strikers and Galle Titans. Following this fans will know who the qualifying teams are for the Playoffs that begins on August 17.

Here’s how fans reacted: