DBA vs CS: Dambulla Aura displayed a clinical show with both bat & ball to register a massive 48-run win over Galle Gladiators. Batting first, Dambulla Aura made their intention clear by smashing boundaries & sixes right from the first ball of the innings. The duo registered a massive 163 run stand for the first wicket to help Aura post a defendable total on board.
Opener Shevon Daniel scored 80 runs off 55 balls with five fours & five sixes while Jordon Cox too supported by playing a meaningful knock of 77 runs off 58 balls with six fours & three sixes. They smashed Stars bowlers all across the park to help their side post a competitive total on board. Stars bowling looked toothless in front of Daniel & Cox’s onslaught with the bat.
After their dismissals in the 19th over Dasun Shanaka played a quick cameo of 12 runs off 5 balls. However, they couldn’t cross the 200 run-mark as their lower order comprising Rajapaksa (0), Raza (0), Forde (0) all got dismissed cheaply for ducks. In thed end Dambulla Aura finished their innings at 178 runs in the alotted 20 overs. For Colombo Stars N Pradeep starred with the ball by returning with wickets of 3 for 37.
In reply, Colombo Stars got off to a worst start as Thanuka Dabare (4) & Mendis (0) got dismissed cheaply by reducing Gladiators to 5-2 in the first over itself. Then came Lahiru Udara & Asad Shafiq on the crease who tried to resurrect Colombo Stars innings by stitching a rewarding 60-run stand for the third wikcet. But soon their blooming stand was broken when Madushan dismissed Asad Shafiq for 28 runs off 14 balls with three fours & two sixes.But Lahiru Kumara was holding one end strongly & scored 32 runs off 32 balls with fours fours to keep Stars scoreboard ticking. Wickets kept falling but Kumara was going strong at the other end.
Soon his blooming innings was ended with Forde dismissing him in the 12th over reducing Stars innings at 89-5. Later Iftrikhar Ahmed (21), Wahab Riaz (13 off 8) & Pradeep’s (10 off 9) played brief cameos which came in no use as Aura wrapped their innings at 130 runs within 19 overs to register 48-run win. For Dambulla Madushan starred with the ball by returning with figures of 3 for 17.
