GT VS BLK QUALIFIER 2

Right then! B-Love Kandy have got a winning momentum going and are now one step away from sealing the title. The final showdown of the fourth edition of the Lanka Premier League will take place on Sunday 20th August as B-Love Kandy lock horns against a formidable Dambulla Aura side. The first ball will be bowled at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) but do join us for the build-up which will begin well in advance. Until then, goodbye and cheers!

Wanindu Hasaranga, the captain of B-Love Kandy is the Player of the Match for his all-round performance. He says that Nuwan Pradeep will probably be fit but they are still short of a few players due to injury. He mentions that he will definitely play in the finals. He adds that he believes in his batting so he promoted himself up the order and backed his skills. He claims that him being the captain is always about doing the best for his team. He credits the support staff and players for earning a spot for them in the finals.

Dasun Shanaka, the skipper of Galle Titans says that Wanindu Hasaranga pushed them over the line while batting. He claims that he wanted to restrict them to 130 runs. He adds that the bowlers did not stick to the plans and he feels that he should have batted in the top 4 but had to go lower down due to the need of the team. He ends by saying that he felt this year was the best quality of cricket being played in the Lanka Premier League and he expects the next edition to be bigger and better than this one.

Time for the presentations...

B-Love Kandy lost their openers early and Sahan Arachchige was dismissed on a duck. Dinesh Chandimal and Wanindu Hasaranga built a 72-run partnership in 52 deliveries to help rebuild the innings. Wanindu Hasaranga fell 2 runs short of his half-century and suffered a hamstring injury while picking up a brace. Angelo Mathews and Chaturanga de Silva played useful cameos to help their side cross the 150-run mark. Sonal Dinusha and Lahiru Kumara claimed two wickets each with Kasun Rajitha and Shakib Al Hasan chipping in with one wicket each. The total was enough for the B-Love Kandy bowlers to defend with ease.

Galle Titans got off to a good start in the run chase scoring 16 and 14 runs in the second and third over respectively. Litton Das got off to a good start scoring 25 runs in 19 balls but was dismissed by Chaturanga de Silva in his first over. The spinners took control thereafter as Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Sahan Arachchige, and Chaturanga de Silva took one wicket each to reduce the Titans to 73 for the loss of 4 wickets. Mohammad Hasnain dismissed Sonal Dinusha who top-scored with 28 and Najibullah Zadran to get the tie firmly in favor of B-Love Kandy. Wanindu Hasaranga chipped in with two wickets as well as despite being injured as B-Love Kandy registered a comfortable win.

B-Love Kandy have booked a spot in the final! They have beaten Galle Titans in a comprehensive manner by registering a 34-run win in Qualifier 2. This has been a remarkable bowling performance once again and their skipper Wanindu Hasaranga has led the team with an injured leg through to the showdown against Dambulla Aura. Galle Titans did finish second on the table but have been knocked out of the tournament.

Lahiru Kumara with a very full ball on the off pole. Kasun Rajitha tries to power it down the ground but the ball rolls away after catching an inside edge. B-Love Kandy have advanced to the finals after defeating Galle Titans very comfortably by a margin of 34 runs.

FOUR! Lahiru Madushanka bowls this slow and full on the off pole. Kasun Rajitha creams it down the ground. There is no protection there and the ball finds the fence.

Full again and on off. Lahiru Kumara drives it to long off for one.

Full and he has taken the pace off. Lahiru Kumara connects with the air.

Short and outside off. Lahiru Kumara swings with power but misses.

Short and on leg. The ball is defected off the pads and the batters take one.

SIX! UP UP AND AWAY! Angelo Mathews bowls this short, slower and on off. Lahiru Kumara has hit it with immense power and slapped it over long on all the way beyond the fence for a maximum.

Short this time on off. Lahiru Kumara swings and misses.

On length again and on middle. Kasun Rajitha nudges it to mid on for a single.

Wide Again! Angelo Mathews hits the length and moving down leg. Kasun Rajitha leaves it alone.