Dambulla Giants cruise to comfortable win in LPL

Dambulla Giants cruised to a comfortable 18 run win in their Lanka Premier League fixture against Colombo Stars yesterday at R. Premadasa Stadium. Some big hitting by Giants batsmen powered them to a huge 195 for six and Stars in reply could only manage 177 all out in 18.5 overs.

Stars needed a big knock from one of their top order batsmen to challenge Giants but their batting did not click. Tom Banton (23), Kusal Perera (20), Pathum Nissanka (12) and Sherfane Rutherford all got starts but were not able to post a big score.

A 38 run stand between Dhananjaya de Silva and Dinesh Chandimal for the sixth wicket kept the Stars interested but the scoreboard pressure saw them taking too many risks. Dhananjaya made 21 while Chandimal went onto top score with 26 runs in 16 deliveries with two fours and two sixes.

Giants may not have any big international names in their ranks but their batting is firing on all cylinders coming up with formidable totals. Their 195 for six yesterday is the competition’s highest total so far. They improved on their previous best of 190 for seven against Warriors on Monday. Explosive Welsh batsman Philip Salt continued his excellent form in the competition smashing 62 off 34 balls with eight fours and two sixes.

Salt, who has already represented England in white ball cricket, batted only for ten overs but that was sufficient to give his side an explosive start and a solid foundation. Dushmantha Chameera was called back to the attack with things getting out of hands for Stars and he provided the breakthrough by dismissing Salt.

After the excellent start, captain Dasun Shanaka and Najibullah Zadran provided the innings the much needed impetus in the death overs as they added 77 runs for the sixth wicket in 49 deliveries. Najibullah posted 54 that came off 40 deliveries with six fours and two sixes while Shanaka finished on 38 having faced 25 deliveries and hit three sixes and two fours. Chameera was on the money again sending down the penultimate over and his extra pace accounted for both batsmen.
Guyanese all-rounder Keemo Paul was the costliest with his three overs going for 48 runs.
With that win, Giants are second in the points table.