Pallekele (PNP)
Upon a splendid century by Chadwick Walton and an exceptional bowling display, the New York Superstar Strikers delivered a resounding 143-run victory over the Colombo Lions in the ongoing Legends Cricket Trophy 2024 at Pallekele International Cricket Stadium. This triumph marks the largest winning margin in the tournament thus far.
With this remarkable win, the Superstar Strikers concluded the league stage with five victories out of six matches, securing the top spot in the team standings.
Opting to field first, the Colombo Lions, under the leadership of Asghar Afghan, invited the New York Superstar Strikers to bat, with acting skipper Daniel Christian leading the charge in the absence of regular captain Yuvraj Singh.
The decision to bowl first backfired for the Lions, as the Strikers’ opening pair of Chadwick Walton and Alviro Petersen forged a formidable 129-run partnership for the first wicket. The West Indies batter Walton’s blistering century, comprising 107 runs off 46 deliveries, including eight fours and nine sixes, inflicted significant damage on the Lions’ bowling attack.
Petersen contributed with 49 runs off 34 balls before being dismissed leg before wicket by Milinda Siriwardana. A brief cameo by Chamara Kapugedera (17* off 7 balls) and a six by Asela Gunaratne, on the lone ball he faced, propelled the Superstar Strikers to a formidable total of 214/3 in 15 overs.
In pursuit of a daunting target, the winless Lions faced an uphill task, resulting in a batting collapse of monumental proportions. Despite captain Asghar Afghan’s resilient effort of 25 runs off 19 balls, the Lions could only muster 71 runs in 11.4 overs. Ben Dunk (15) and Malinda Pushpakumara (10) were the only other batters to reach double figures in the run chase.
Whereas, in the first encounter of the day, the Delhi Devils convincingly defeated the Kandy Samp Army by six wickets, securing their second victory in the competition.
Led by a remarkable bowling performance from left-arm spinner Iqbal Abdullah, the Delhi Devils restricted the Kandy Samp Army to a meagre total of 111 for 8 within the stipulated 90 balls.
In response, the Delhi Devils comfortably chased down the target in 12.2 overs, losing only four wickets in the process, sealing a six-wicket victory.
Brief Scores:
Match 20:
Kandy Samp Army – 111/8 (90 balls) – Jesal Karia – 23 (21 balls); Iqbal Abdulla – 3/19.
Delhi Devils – 112/4 (74 balls) – Amitoze Singh – 37* (19 balls); Vikas Tokas – 2/14.
Match 21:
New York Superstar Strikers – 214/3 (90 balls) – Chadwick Walton – 107 (46 balls); Rana Muhammad Naeem – 2/48.
Colombo Lions – 71/10 (70 balls) – Asghar Afghan – 25 (19 balls); Dhammika Prasad – 3/15.
