The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
That's it for this match, folks! Aura are deservedly into the final while Shanaka's team too have a chance to make it there if they win the second qualifier, though this loss will hurt the momentum they had gained in the league stage. Hope you enjoyed the coverage. This is Rudransh and Pragadeesh signing off for Sportskeeda!
Dasun Shanaka (Galle Titans captain) - We had our chances to score 160-170 but we lost wickets at crucial time. Myself, Shakib and Naib should click on these types of matches but we didn't do it. We had 5 main bowlers and I decided to stick with them but I could've tried myself to bowl into the wicket on this slow surface
Kusal Mendis is adjudged as Player of the Match. He says in the post-match presentation that things are going to plan for his team and they are confident going into the final.
That will do! A bit of nerves at the end but Dambulla Aura are in the final of the Lanka Premier League 2023! And all the credit for it goes to the excellent nerves-of-steel batting performance!
End of the match! Dambulla Aura win by six wickets!
That's a top-class team performance from the Aura! From bowling to batting and fielding, they were clinical and rarely put a foot wrong.
147 was a tricky target, which was never chased yet on this ground in LPL 2023. But Fernando gave them a brilliant start with his 14-ball 24. Mendis absorbed all the pressure from the other end as Rajitha and Kumara looked not exactly tailor-made for this sticky pitch with their pacy deliveries coming onto the bat nicely.
Shakib was excellent and got Fernando out just when he was looking the most dangerous and Sadeera Samarawickrama couldn't do much either. That's when the two Kusals joined hands and built one of the best partnerships in a run-chase. On paper it was just 69 off 56 balls but the way they tackled the spinners was exceptional.
Perera was dropped early and made them pay by taking the role of the aggressor. Prasanna was superbly consistent but Shamsi came under the fire from Perera and couldn't help his team build any kind of pressure. He got Mendis off his second-last ball of the match but it was a bit too late.
Perera hit a massive six when Aura needed 10 runs which meant that the jitters even after he got out on the first ball of the next over, weren't difficult to manage.
19.4 Dasun Shanaka to Alex Ross, DAMBULLA BOOK THEIR SPOT IN THE FINAL FOR THE FIRST TIME IN LPL HISTORY! They recorded the highest run-chase in Colombo this season so far! Off-pace on a good length, Ross comes down the track and swings downtown but gets an inside edge. Dds acknowledges the single this time
What is happening here? After batting so well, Aura just can't get a run!
19.3 Dasun Shanaka to Alex Ross, back of a hand delivery outside off, Ross dabs it to backward point and wants a single but Dds shouts no sends him back
19.2 Dasun Shanaka to Alex Ross, slow delivery on a good length on off-stump, Ross pushes it back to the bowler
Alex Ross, RHB, comes to the crease
Oh Perera, you missed a golden opportunity for a fairytale birthday gift!
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R.Premadasa Stadium, Khettarama, Colombo
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