Mathew’s shines bright: Kandy clinches Championship

B-Love Kandy’s stand-in captain and Player of the Match, Angelo Mathews guided his team to their maiden Lanka Premier League 2023 title with a thrilling five-wicket final-over win over Dambulla Aura in front of a packed house at the R Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.
Chasing the target of 148, B-Love Kandy got over the victory line with a ball to spare. In the absence LPL 2023’s highest wicket-taker, highest run-getter and captain Wanindu Hasaranga, who was out due to a hamstring injury, veteran Mathews cracked an unbeaten 25 in 21 balls to ensure the team walks away with the crown in the fourth edition which was witnessed by Srilanka President His Excellency, Ranil Wickremesinghe.
According to reports, opting to bat, Dambulla Aura managed two 50-run partnerships. The Kandy bowlers, however, restricted the Dambulla side to score 147 runs for four wickets in the allotted 20 overs. Kandy’s opening pair of Kamindu Mendis (44) and Mohammad Haris (26) got the team to score 47 runs in the powerplay without losing a wicket.
Wicketkeeper Dinesh Chandimal then fired a 22-ball 24 to keep up the momentum till he was dismissed by Binura Fernando. Kandy was 95-2 when Angelo walked into bat in the 13th over. Experienced Mathews stood his ground under pressure in front of a sold out stadium, when Kandy slipped from 94-1 to 107 for 4 in 21 deliveries.