The Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 Cricket Tournament got off to a spectacular start as the Colombo Kings edged-out the Kandy Tuskers by four runs in a Super Over thriller at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota on Thursday.
The match ended in a dramatic tie during the stipulated 20 overs with the Tuskers scoring 219 for three and the Kings replied with 219 for seven.
In the Super Over bowled by Nuwan Pradeep, Colombo Kings collected 16 runs for one wicket and then Isuru Udana defended that score by delivering a splendid over to restrict the Tuskers to 12 for one.
Earlier, dynamic all-rounder Udana hit a 12-ball 34 as the Kings came from behind to level the scores after they had suffered a middle order collapse.
Man-of-the Match, Dinesh Chandimal of course, set the pace for a huge run chase by making a top score of 80 with the help of two sixes and a dozen of boundaries.
But it was Udana who actually brought the Kings closer to that huge total while hoisting four sixes during a magnificent exhibition of power hitting.
The Tuskers of course, believed they had the game in their bag once they amassed that massive 219 for three after they were invited to bat first.
The openers, Kusal Janith Perera (87) and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (53) set the pace with a stand of 75 runs while Kusal Mendis (30) and Asela Gunaratne (33 n.o) added the finishing touches in style.
Brief scores:
Kandy Tuskers: 219/3 in 20 overs (Kusal Janith Perera 87, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 53, Kusal Mendis 30, Asela Gunaratne 33 n.o)
Colombo Kings: 219/7 in 20 overs. (Dinesh Chandimal 80, Laurie Evans 22, Thikshila de Silva 22, Isuru Udana 34 n.o, Nuwan Pradeep 2/34, Naveen-u-Haq 2/40).
