Aura vs Kandy, 19th Match at Colombo, LPL, Aug 14 2023 - Match Result

And with that it's a wrap from us. Here's the table as it stands heading into the last of the round robin games tomorrow. Be sure to join us for that, but it's goodbye for now!

Kandy skipper Wanindu Hasaranga: "We're human, it's tough to play back-to-back games without even 24 hours rest. But our bowlers did a really good job, we just need one or two more batters to chip in."

Avishka Fernando gets the Striker of the Match award

Player of the Match goes to Dambulla's stand-in skipper Dhananjaya de Silva: "Our bench is very strong, it was our captain's idea to give them a chance. We have a lot of guys that can match up one to one. It's a good headache to be having. [bowling spell?] Maybe it was my day, the slower wicket definitely helped."

Time now for the post-match presentation...

Udam: "LPL should include another team. i felt that there is more talents who haven't got an opportunity. Then LPL would be perfect." --- There's been talk of adding a sixth team for a few seasons now. Hopefully fifth time will be the charm.

What this means is that Kandy will have to wait till the end of tomorrow's virtual quarter-final between Colombo and Galle to see if they join Dambulla in the Playoffs or if they'll need to play the Eliminator. Jaffna will be in the Eliminator regardless, with only a match abandonment able to knock them out.

10.57pm So Dambulla complete a 20-run victory, making it six wins from eight. That they did so with a much-rotated XI will be a massive boon as well. Dhananjaya de Silva, stand-in skipper for the day, was the star with the ball finishing with career best figures of 4 for 6 in just two overs. He took out the openers in the second over of the chase and then returned later to end a threatening partnership between Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal. With the bat, Avishka and Sadeera put Dambulla on course of a big total but Kandy's array of spinners hauled them in through the middle overs. But a flourish at the death courtesy some big hitting from Hayden Kerr and Ben McDermott got them to an ultimately winning total.

Viran: "Coming in after a decent start you would really think an experienced pair like chandi and matthews could put this team in a winning position. Unfortunately this is all too familiar for sri lankan fans. Flashes of brilliance here and there but not very much to show in terms of match defining knocks."

25 needed off the last over then. Crucially, Udana is on strike.

JR: "Beware of Udana here... he is the dangerous one." --- This was sent before the six, fyi.

DaWolf: "Surely de Silva deserves a chance to get a Michelle? Strange he's only bowled 2 overs." Tell him that, he's the stand-in skipper today!

So the game petering to a close here. Looks like Kandy have given up the ghost and are happy to bat out the full 20.

Lakmal: "@ Gunarathne Ashen failed only in this match. Can you please pointed a match he git out before getting double figures? Also, Ashen should bat at no 4 or 5. Not 7. He takes time to settle."

Anish: "B-Love Kandy are completely dependent upon Hasaranga. If he performs they win, if he doesn't, they lose. "