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In the final league stage match of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023, the Colombo Strikers (CS) faced a must-win situation against the Galle Titans (GT) to have a chance at making it to the playoffs. However, the Strikers had a day to forget as they delivered their worst performance in the history of the LPL, leading to their disastrous elimination from the tournament.
On the other hand, the GT not only secured a convincing victory but also clinched the second spot in the league stage, earning the right to play in Qualifier 1 against the top-side Dambulla Aura. The game also saw a standout performance from Nuwanidu Fernando, who grabbed the limelight with a spectacular catch of Liton Das, serving as a positive highlight for the CS in an otherwise forgettable fixture.
The Titans’ decision to bowl first on a typical slow wicket in Colombo paid off well. Right from the toss, everything seemed to go in favor of the Titans. Their bowlers were in complete control, making it a challenging task for the Strikers’ batters. Kasun Rajitha‘s tight bowling yielded just ten runs in his two overs. Lahiru Kumara contributed by taking crucial wickets in his two overs, including both openers, Pathum Nissanka and Babar Azam, while also bowling a maiden over. Shakib Al Hasan continued the pressure, conceding only eight runs in his 3.4 overs and claiming the wicket of Iftikhar Ahmed.
Nevertheless, the standout performance came from Tabraiz Shamsi, who was sensational with the ball. The chinaman spinner made a significant impact by taking four wickets for just twenty runs in his four overs. His victims included Lahiru Udara, Nipun Dhananjaya, Nuwanidu and Mohammad Nawaz. Seekkuge Prasanna provided valuable support by taking the wickets of Chamika Karunaratne, Shoriful Islam and Jeffrey Vandersay.
The Strikers’ batting lineup struggled immensely against the disciplined and effective bowling of the Titans. They were bundled out for a mere total of 74 runs in 15.4 overs, with none of their batters managing to cross the 15-run mark.
Fernando grabs a stunner
In the pursuit of the target, the CS faced an early setback as they lost the wicket of Bhanuka Rajapaksha. Following Rajapaksha’s dismissal, the Bangladesh batter Das came to the crease to partner with Lasith Croospulle. It was a significant moment for Liton as he made his debut in the LPL 2023. Nonetheless, his debut turned out to be less memorable, as the 28-year-old was dismissed after scoring just a solitary run.
To create further damage to the GT’ batting lineup, the CS introduced the right-arm leg spinner Vandersey in the fourth over. Vandersey proved effective, as he managed to dismiss Das. However, this wicket wouldn’t have been possible without Fernando’s exceptional effort on the boundary.
In an attempt to break free from the shackles after scoring just one run in the initial three balls, he decided to take on the challenge. Liton aimed to hit the young leg spinner over extra covers for a maximum. But the vigilant Fernando, who was patrolling the long-off boundary, intervened by executing a spectacular diving catch. This catch provided the GT with their second breakthrough, reducing the opposition to a score of 2/19 in their pursuit of the modest target of 75 runs.
Here’s the video:
Nuwanidu Fernando with a jaw-dropping grab!
An absolute world-class effort that defines the term 'Superman' on the field! 🦸🏏#LPL2023 pic.twitter.com/JdbGxZ9szf
— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) August 15, 2023
Croospulle then played a match-winning innings, scoring an unbeaten 42 runs from 25 balls, including 4 fours and 3 sixes. His contribution helped the Titans secure victory. For his impactful performance with the ball, Shamsi was deservedly named the Player of the Match.
