Lanka Premier League kicks off with a super over finish

The inaugural match of LPL 2020 between Kandy Tuskers and Colombo Kings was a high scoring tie with both teams ending at 219 runs. The match was adjudged in a Super Over.

Earlier Colombo Kings captain Angelo Mathews won the toss and elect to bowl on a belter of a wicket at Hambantota. It was fireworks in the powerplay with the Afghanistan wk-batsman Rahmanullah Gurbaz launching the onsalught that powered Kandy Tuskers to 79/1 in 6 overs. Gurbaz smacked 53 runs in 22 balls with 6 Fours and 4 Sixes. All of his runs coming in the powerplay.

Kusal Perera who opened with Gurbaz took the initiative after the fall of 1st wicket and made sure the run rate never dipped below 10. Kusal Perera tonked 87 runs in 52 balls with the help of 9 Fours and 4 Sixes with the help of Kusal Mendis and Asela Gunaratne helping the team’s cause. Kandy Tuskers ended their innings at 219 for the loss of 3 wickets which looked like a top notch score.

Chasing a huge target of 220 runs, Herschelle Gibbs coached Colombo Kings were up to the task in no time. Indian all rounder Irfan Pathan looked in good rhythm in his first over – as Dinesh Chandimal got lucky when he mistimed the ball in the air which was put down by Naveen-ul-Haq. That was the turning point as both Chandimal and Laurie Evans quickly shifted gears. Irfan Pathan left the field with a hamstring pull – after going for 4 consecutive boundaries against Chandimal. Laurie Evans fell in the final over of powerplay bowled by Asela Gunaratne.

Chandimal brought up his fifty in the 8th over as he joined forces with Thikshila de Silva to put on a score of 129-1 in 12 overs. At this point, Colombo Kings needed 91 runs to win in 48 balls. The very next over Naveen-ul-Haq removed both the batsmen and shifted the momentum towards Tuskers.

Things got worse for Kings when captain Angelo Mathews departed the very next over bowled by leg spinner Sekkuge Prasanna. But, with Andre Russell at the crease, the equation of 82 runs to win in 36 balls still looked like a possibility.

Unlike IPL 2020, Andre Russell kicked off concentrating on ground shots smashing 3 Fours before hitting the lone Six. The equation now read as 55 runs to win in 24 balls. Enter Nuwan Pradeep – Pradeep removed Russell as the Windies powerhouse couldn’t control the pull shot as the ball rushed on to him. It was quite tactical by Pradeep who sprayed a few wide yorkers which furstrated Russell.

52 runs to win in 3 overs – It looked like it was Kandy Tuskers night. It was looking increasingly likely with the Kings needing 47 runs to win in 14 balls – exactly when there was a twist in the plot. The name of the twist was Isuru Udana who banged 2 back to back Sixes off Kaveeshka Anjula and set the equation to 35 to win in 2 overs.

15 runs from the 19th over off Nuwan Pradeep meant Kings needed 20 runs to win in the last over with 4 wickets in hand. Isuru Udana took the onus on himself as Asela Gunaratne bowled a paltry over of full tosses with the wet ball which was dealt with properly. Udana hit 2 Sixes off the over and the equation read as 5 runs to win in 3 balls. The game completely shifted in favor of Colombo Kings again.

A crucial dot ball came in the form of a run out of Qais Ahmad who tried to steal a quick single. 5 runs required in 2 balls – Udana hit the 2 balls to long off and long on picking 2 runs on both occasions. The scores were tied and it was time for super over.

The Super Over:

Colombo Kings sent in Andre Russell and Isuru Udana to bat in the super over. Udana gave his wicket away trying for the slog. Enter captain Angelo Mathews who was a handy partner with Dre Russ as both combined to put 16 runs on board (thanks to a Six by Russell, 2 wides by Pradeep and a well placed Four by Mathews)

Kandy Tuskers needed 17 runs to win the Super over – and Kings picked Isuru Udana as their bowler. Opening pair Gurbaz and Kusal Perera walked in to bat. Gurbaz smacked a four and a six off the 2nd and 3rd ball which meant Tuskers needed just 7 runs to win in 3 balls. Isuru Udana the experienced bowler he is in these situations, delivered a dot ball and conceded just a single off the next ball with a slower and fuller outside off delivery. With 6 runs to win off the last ball – Kusal Perera could only manage a single off a full and well wide of off stump delivery. Isuru Udana the hero for Colombo Kings.

Dinesh Chandimal was adjudged the Man of the Match for his 80 runs in 46 balls that put Colombo Kings in the hunt.

Match Highlights: