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Wanindu Hasaranga’s all-round show helped B-Love Kandy reach the top of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 points table with an 89-run win over Dasun Shanaka-led Galle Titans at Pallekele International Stadium. First, Hasaranga scored the fastest fifty of the season and then followed it up with an economical four-fer to bowl out Titans for 114 in the 17th over.
Shanaka won the toss and opted to bowl first. Fakhar Zaman scored 45 runs from 35 balls whereas Mohammad Haris and Dinesh Chandimal got out after getting a decent start. Then Angelo Matthews contributed with a 23-ball 40 cameo and shared a crucial 87-run fourth-wicket partnership with Hasaranga.
Hasaranga got to his half-century from 18 balls with a six against Tabraiz Shamsi in the 17th over. It is also the third-fastest half-century in the history of LPL. His 27-ball 64 was laced with nine fours and two sixes. His quickfire knock helped Kandy post 203/5 on the board.
In the run chase, Titans lost three overs in the powerplay overs itself. Hasaranga introduced himself into the attack in the seventh over. Lasith Croospulle who did the bulk of scoring during fielding restrictions became Hasaranga's first victim.
In his next over, Shakib Al Hasan went for a sweep shot but the top edge went to deep square leg fielder. He would have gotten a wicket in his third over as wel but Mohammad Haris missed a stumping and Lahiru Samarakoon got a reprieve. He hit Hasaranga for a six in the same over as well.
Hasaranga brought himself back into the attack in the 17th over. He mopped up the tail with two consecutive blows. First Tabraiz Shamsi got bowled as he failed to pick the wrong one. Then Richard Ngarava went for a big shot and got caught at long-off. Titans could post only 114 on the board and their net run rate (NRR) took a massive hit as well.
“One batter should go from the very first ball. I got the chance to bat early and did the basics right. I try to do my basics when bowling, I bowl at the stumps, leg-spin or googly. I try to bowl dot balls, that's why I’m successful,” the 26-year-old said in the post-match presentation.
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