Kusal Mendis' brilliant 87 runs for Dambulla Aura help beat Colombo Strikers in LPL 2023

Kusal Mendis (Source: Twitter)

The 8th Match of Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 between the Colombo Strikers (CS) and Dambulla Aura (DA) at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy was something to watch. DA were invited to bat first after CS won the toss. DA had a decent start but after the wicket of Avishka Ferando, they were off to a flyer as opener Kusal Mendis and Sadeera  Samarawickrama made a 120-run partnership for the second wicket.

Kusal Mendis scored 87 runs off 46 balls, with eight sixes and four boundaries. When he got out he had a strike rate of 189.13. Samarawickrama on the other hand gave brilliant support to the southpaw, he scored 59 runs off 35 balls with a strike rate of 168.57.

Kusal Mendis shines for DA

Dambulla Aura have piled on 192 for 6, the duo added 120 off just 64 balls for the second wicket to prop struggling innings. Aura were on 58 for 1 after nine overs. They then slammed 134 in the last 11 overs to put up a strong total.

There were a couple of dropped catches as well. The tenth over was an eventful one as it swung the momentum towards the DA. Mendis struck three sixes in an over off Nawaz but there was a big moment in that same over. Mendis, on 37, was caught at short extra cover by Vandersay but the third umpire deemed it not out. Naseem Shah bowled superbly with the new ball and was unlucky not to get any wickets early in the innings.

In response to a huge 190 runs target, the CS needed a good and fiery start but they lost wickets at regular intervals. Pakistan skipper Babar Azam scored 41 runs from 24 balls, along with Nuwanidu Fernando who is still unbeaten at 52 runs with the CS still requiring 33 runs from 11 balls.

In a match between Jaffna Kings and Colombo Strikers, the Pakistani pacer did not just inflict the first blow on Jaffna but he also gave their opener and Afghanistan batter Rahmanullah Gurbaz.