Dambulla Giants won the toss and decided to bat first. Their decision to bat backfired as they ended up losing three-wicket for 20 runs after 3.4 overs. It went from bad to worst when Dasun Shanaka had to leave the ground with a back injury. They were 5 for 56 when Jayathilake and Mendis started the rebuild. Mendis ended up scoring 41 off 28 balls and helped his team reach a competitive total of 130. He made sure that his team had some sort of a total on the board. Kandy Warriors came out to bat knowing that a loss will mean curtains to their season. Lewis played a nice cameo up top but once he was dismissed they kept losing wickets from one end. Bopara (59 runs off 50 balls) was the one who took on the responsibility and made sure his team ended up on the right side of the result. He was well supported by Angelo Perera who scored 29 runs off 22 balls. Kandy Warriors are still alive in the LPL with this 6 wicket win.
Perera: We have been on the losing side most of the times, but we have played some exciting cricket. We opted to go with the extra seamer and that worked out for us. Zero pressure, to be honest, we just need to enjoy our game. Told the boys to play pressure-free cricket and we had a good outing today.
Dickwella: We have played good cricket throughout the tournament, but things haven't gone our way in the last 3 games. 130 is not easy to defend on any wicket. But we took the game till the 19th over, that's a positive. I haven't heard anything about Shanaka yet.
Bopara (Player of the Match): There are two ways to go about such a target. You knock it over in 14-15 overs, or take it deep and bat till the end, that is what I did. I was told this morning that I'll be batting at number 3, and that I had to bat through.
Kandy Warriors have won the match by 6 wickets.
19.2 Lange to R Bopara
6 Six!! Bang. Short ball outside off, Bopara pulls it perfectly over the square leg boundary for a match finishing six. The Warriors won by 6 wickets with four balls to spare.
19.1 Lange to R Bopara
0 Full ball on off, drives it back to the bowler. He didn't collect it cleanly but no run taken.
OVER 19
Kandy Warriors
129/4
Angelo Perera
29(22)
Ravi Bopara
53(48)
Imran Tahir
2-17(4.0)
18.6 I Tahir to A Perera
2 Full ball on off, slog sweeps it to mid wicket for two runs. Not timed well enough to get the boundary. Just 2 away from the win here Kandy Warriors.