Babar Azam’s brilliant century helped Colombo Strikers beat Titans by 7 wickets in the first match of the day in the Lankan Premier League (LPL). Batting at the start, Galle Titans scored 188 runs for 3 wickets in the scheduled 20 overs. In response, Colombo won with 1 ball and 7 wickets in hand.
Colombo Strikers skipper Niroshan Dickbela won the toss at Pallekele and sent the Gaul Titans into bat. Gaul got off to a great start after losing the toss and batting. The opening pair scored 87 runs in 7.5 overs. Lasith Crospool scored 36 runs off just 19 balls. Another opener Shevon Daniel scored 49 runs off 31 balls.
Tim Scheffert made a partnership of 87 runs with Vanuka Rajapaksa for the third wicket. That’s why the team gets a big collection. Rajapaksa scored 30 runs. On the other hand, Scheiffert remained unbeaten with 54 runs off 35 balls. Team leader Dasun Shanaka left the field with 6 runs.
Two openers Babar Azam and Pathum Nishanka gave Colombo a flying start chasing runs. The two made a partnership of 111 runs. Nishanka stopped at 54 runs after completing his fifty. Nuanaidu Fernando scored only 8 runs off 11 balls to play the next wicket.
Meanwhile, opener Babar Azam continues to play in Apontal. He also took the first century of this year’s LPL after reaching fifty. He scored 104 runs off 59 balls. Later Chamika Karunaratne and Mohammad Newaz secured the victory. Newaz remained unbeaten on 14 runs and Karunaratne on 2 runs.
(07 Aug/MM)