Shakib shows all-round performance but Galle lose to Dambulla in LPL

Sports Reporter :
Ace all-rounder Shakib Al Hasan showed an all-round performance but his team Galle Titans lost to Dambulla Aura by six wickets in the first Qualifier of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) at R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, the capital city of Sri Lanka on Thursday.

Shakib Al Hasan hit a fine 19 using 17 deliveries with three fours.

Later, Shakib Al Hasan picked up one wicket in the space of 23 runs.

Sent into bat first, Galle Titans piled up a fighting total of 146 in the allotted 20 overs.

In reply, Dambulla Aura cruised into the victory target making 147 for the loss of four wickets when they had only two balls to spare.

Galle Titans had a poor start as they lost their opener Bhanuka Rajapaksa (0) when they failed to open their account.

Opener Lasith Croospulle and one-down Litton Das repaired the damage adding together 25 runs in the second wicket stand before Litton Das was dismissed by Hayden Kerr.

Litton Das scored eight runs from seven balls with one four.

Then, Croospulle and Shakib Al Hasan built another notable partnership contributing together 51 runs for the third wicket partnership before Shakib was dismissed by Dhananjaya de Silva when Galle’s total was 76 for the loss of three wickets.

Croospulle and Lahiru Samarakoon made another remarkable partnership scoring together 29 runs for the six-wicket stand before Lahiru (15) was bowled out by Hayden Kerr when Galle’s score was 124 for the loss of six wickets.

Croospulle was the day’s most successful batter.

He hammered a superb 80 capitalising 61 deliveries with seven shots through the rope.

Croospulle was run out by wicketkeeper Kusal Mendis when Galles score was 146 for the loss of nine wickets.

Hayden Kerr was his team’s most successful bowler with three wickets instead of 18 runs.

Later, Kusal Perera and Kusal Mendis of Dambulla Aura shone with the willow.

Kusal Perera struck a marvelous 53.

He hit three sixes and four fours in his 39-ball innings before he was caught & bowled by Dasun Shanaka when Dambulla’s score was 146 for the loss of four wickets.

Kusal Mendis made 49 from 45 deliveries including six fours before he was trapped leg before wicket by Tabraiz Shamsi when Dambulla’s total was 133 for the loss of three wickets.

Shanaka, Seekuge Prasanna, Shamsi took one wicket each for one, 22 and 37 runs respectively.