DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka, CMC – Andre Fletcher’s third half-century in five innings final made a difference for Kandy Falcons, earning them a 54-run victory over Dambulla Sixers in the Lanka Premier League yesterday.
His previous two fifties had both ended in defeat for Falcons but this time, the veteran West Indies opener’s 34-ball 60 was instrumental in Falcons piling up 222 for four from their 20 overs – a total that proved beyond Sixers.
Towards the end, Kamindu Mendis struck an unbeaten 51 from 24 balls while Angelo Mathews belted an unbeaten 42 from 23 deliveries.
In reply, opener Kusal Perera scored a marvellous 74 off 40 balls but the remainder of the batting faltered, Sixers coming up short on 168 for nine from their 20 overs. The victory was only Falcons’ third of the campaign, leaving them fourth in the six-team league on six points, while Sixers remained bottom on four points.
Sent in, Falcons lost Dinesh Chandimal (12) cheaply in the fourth over but Fletcher ensured a revival by anchoring a 41-run second wicket stand with Mohammad Haris (24) and a 44-run third wicket partnership with captain Wanindu Hasaranga (25). He punched a four and seven sixes but was dismissed tamely, getting a leading edge back to leg-spinner Dushan Hemantha (3-14) in the 13th over.
Mendis then lashed five fours and two sixes and Matthews, five sixes, as the pair finished the innings strongly in a robust, unbroken 95-run, fifth wicket partnership.
Sixers were then slumping at 16 for two in the third over before Mendis attempted a rescue effort, posting 31 for the third wicket with Lahiru Udara (3), 40 for the fourth wicket with Mark Chapman (24) and 29 for the sixth wicket with Sonal Dinusha (17).
He thumped five fours and five sixes before perishing in the 15th over and leg-spinner Dasun Shanaka (4-35) and new ball seamer Datsun Shanaka (3-29) then shredded the innings to complete the win for Falcons.
