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B-Love Kandy (BLK) emerged victorious against Dambulla Aura (DA) in the final of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023. BLK secured a memorable 5-wicket win over DA in a last-over thriller to lift the coveted LPL 2023 title at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Sunday, August 20.
Dambulla Aura Innings:
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, Dambulla Aura set the stage with a competitive total of 147/4 in their allotted 20 overs. Kusal Mendis added 22 runs, while Sadeera Samarawickrama scored 36 runs. Kusal Perera also played a crucial role with 31 runs. However, it was Dhananjaya de Silva’s explosive knock of 40 runs that powered their DA innings to a decent score. Chaturanga de Silva (2 wickets) and Nuwan Pradeep (1 wicket) shined with the ball for BLK and kept the Dambulla batters in check.
B-Love Kandy Innings:
In reply, B-Love Kandy showcased their batting prowess, achieving the required runs with one ball to spare and finishing at a total of 151/5 in 19.5 overs. Kamindu Mendis was a standout performer with a well-crafted 44 runs, supported by valuable contributions from Mohammad Haris (26 runs), Dinesh Chandimal (24 runs), and Angelo Mathews (25 runs). Noor Ahmad‘s brilliant bowling effort for Dambulla Aura (3 wickets for 27 runs) added tension to the game, but BLK’s Asif Ali (19 runs) sealed the victory.
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Player of the Match:
Mathews was named the Player of the Match for his all-round performance. His crucial batting contribution and economical bowling played a pivotal role in B-Love Kandy’s victory.
With this gripping victory, B-Love Kandy clinched their maiden title of the LPL under the leadership of Wanindu Hasaranga, marking a memorable moment in the tournament’s history.
It is worth mentioning that Hasaranga played a major role in BLK’s success. He finished as the event’s leading wicket-taker and run-scorer. The BLK skipper even won the Player of the Tournament award for his all-round performance throughout LPL 2023.
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