Kandy Tuskers (KDT) lock horns against Colombo Kings (CLK) in the inaugural game of Lanka Premier League (LPL) at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium, Hambantota. Looking at both the sides it was difficult to say who will take this game away as both the teams have quality pinch-hitters in their sides. However, Colombo Kings (CLK) did what seemed impossible at one stage and out of nowhere won the match in the first-ever super over of the tournament. Kandy Tuskers (KDT) after posting 219 runs for the loss 3 wickets in their allotted 20 overs won't expect they would be losing this game.
Both the teams have scored a total of 438 runs in their respective 20 overs with no one coming out as victorious in the end. The match was tied and went into the Super Over with Colombo Kings set the target of 17 runs off 6 balls for Kandy Tuskers to chase in the Super Over game. However, Kandy Tuskers only managed to score 12 runs in the super over and lost the match by 4 runs.
Let us take a look at three things that went wrong for Kandy Tuskers:
Kandy Tuskers (KDT) Bowlers Have Failed To Defend The Target:
It was completely shocking to see that team after scoring 219 runs in the 20 overs still lost the game. Kandy Tuskers batsmen have done their part and put the team into the driver seat but the bowlers have reversed the situation for Kandy Tuskers. Although Dinesh Chandimal 46-ball 80 runs which included 12 fours and 2 Sixes assure Colombo Kings is in the chase but the fall of wickets in between put the Kandy tuskers back into the game.
Isuru Udana 12-ball 34 which included 4 sixes set the world on fire with the sensational knock towards the end for Colombo Kings. The equation boiled down to 20 runs required of last over Udana hammered two sixes with 19 runs of the final over to take the game into the Super Over. Where Udana again restricted the Kandy Tuskers to chase the target of 17 runs in the first super over of the match.
Kandy Tuskers (KDT) Have InExperience Bowling Unit:
Defending 220 won't be easy for any team under the lights but Colombo Kings openers added on 64 runs in 5.2 overs to expose the bowling of Kandy Tuskers. The openers set the momentum while other players just accelerate the momentum according to the run rate. From Dinesh Chandimal (80) to Andre Russell (34) with short cameo of Isuru Udana 34* Colombo Kings never looked out of the game and easily tied the match and won it in the super over.
Naveen-ul-Haq, Nuwan Pardeep, Kaveeshka Anjula and Asela Gunaratne all conceded more than 30 runs in their respective 4 overs spell. If the frontline bowlers of the team have failed to stop the opposition the part-timers would be having no chance to provide any help. Inexperience bowlers were the another thing Kandy Tuskers have lost the match hope Dale Steyn will be back in the next match as Kandy Tuskers won't have quality bowlers to defend even the small total.
Kandy Tuskers (KDT) Not Playing With Best XI:
Although it is not the question to put up after the team has scored 219 runs but if the team has still lost the match after scoring such amount of runs. The speculations and questions are obvious now as Kandy Tuskers were not playing with Dale Steyn, Brendon Taylor and Munaf Patel. The Kandy Tuskers batsman have put the team into the almost winning position but bowlers have leaked so many runs in the second innings and Kandy Tuskers captain has experimented with eight bowlers to defend the target which in the end he has unable to make it possible and lost the game.
Talent wins matches, teamwork wins tournaments hope Kandy Tuskers will become the complete team in the bowling and all-rounders department in the next game to taste the first win of the tournament.
