Falcons vs Kings, 13th Match at Kandy, LPL, Dec 14 2022 - Match Result

6:45pm Right. That will be a wrap from us for this game. But there is still one more game to go in this Pallekele leg of the LPL. The Colombo Stars will be taking on Dambulla Aura in a game that promises just as many twists and turns as this one. Until next time, this is me (Shashwat) signing off on behalf of Ranjith. Goodbye and take care!

Wanindu Hasaranga, the winning captain: We are playing very good cricket throughout the tournament. Bowlers are doing their job perfectly and the batters are also doing their job perfectly. We have good batters at the death also like Chamika, Fabian and Ricky. So my plan is to bat till the 14th-15th over and then allow them to play their game. He (Brathwaite) is an experienced player. He bowled very good lengths and that is important on this kind of wicket.

Thisara Perera, the losing captain: First of all, I have to say that a win or a loss is part of the game. We can learn from these situations. I think this was a 170-180 wicket. We did not click otherwise we could have chased this down. We can learn from these matches and we will definitely come back strongly.

Fabian Allen, Player of the Match: It was a difficult moment when I went out to bat. I just backed myself to execute. We are playing good cricket and our bowlers are pretty decent. Have to give credit to Carlos and how he bowled. (On his bowling) I just wanted to go out there and execute.

Time for the post-match presentation!

6:35pm Well, that eventually turned out to be a convincing victory for the Falcons. The Kings got off to a brisk start, ransacking 50 runs in the powerplay. But akin to the Falcons, they struggled to inject impetus into their innings through the middle. Hasaranga and Allen applied the squeeze and once that happened, they were always playing catch up. They were not helped by the hands their experienced players played either. Both Malik and Perera looked scratchy at the crease, meaning that more pressure was piled on Samarawickrama. The youngster fought hard, scoring a 41-ball 48 but support was unfortunately not very forthcoming.

Kandy, meanwhile, would be thrilled with how they defended what seemed a par total (at best) at the half-way stage. As has become the norm, their bowling display was headlined by Brathwaite and skipper Hasaranga. Allen, too, used the conditions on offer, with the rest of the bowlers chipping in. Karunaratne had an off-day but with the Falcons having secured another win, you feel they might not be fretting over it too much.

Two legitimate deliveries and the Falcons will be home

19 needed off 3 balls now. Three sixes and we are going to a Super Over

Karunaratne to bowl the final over. 23 runs to get

25 needed off 9 now. And just one wicket in hand. The Falcons would want to close things out in this over itself. Waqar is the last man in but he will be off strike

31 off 12 now, with just two wickets in hand and two lower order batters at the crease. Surely the Falcons will not botch this up? Udana to bowl the penultimate over

Madushanka is the new man in. Can Brathwaite finish with a five-for?

Mid on in the circle

36 needed off 18 balls at 12 runs per over. Can Brathwaite pick up another wicket to halt the Kings' charge?