B-Love Kandy has clinched the Lanka Premier League (LPL) for the first team by beating Dambulla Aura by 5 wickets in the final on August 20 in Colombo.

Before the final, Kandy hit with a big blow as their captain Wanindu Hasaranga was ruled out of the final. But acting captain Angelo Mathews did his job well and showed his experience to win the match for Kandy. Chasing a target of 148 runs, Kandy started well as their openers- Mohammad Haris and Kamindu Mendis put on a 49-run opening partnership. Spinner Noor Ahmad broke the partnership by taking the wicket of Haris.

Haris scored 26 runs off 22 balls with 3 fours and a six. Dinesh Chandimal then joined with Kamindu and kept Kandy in track in the chase. But they lost 3 wickets 13 runs and were reduced to 107/4 in 15.5 overs. Kandy needed 41 runs more in the last 25 balls. But Mathews was calm and with Asif Ali’s 10-ball 19, Kandy won the match with one ball in hand. Kamindu scored 44 runs off 37 balls and Mathews was unbeaten on 25 runs off 21 balls.

Noor Ahmad took 3 wickets for Dambulla while Binura Fernando got two wickets.

Before this, Dambulla posted a total of 147 runs in 20 overs losing 4 wickets. Dhananjaya de Silva was the highest run-scorer for them with 40 runs from 29 ball with 3 sixes. Kandy bowled well in the absence of Hasaranga. Chaturanga was the best bowler for them with two wickets.