No way! Slams it away for a four! Colombo Strikers have won this cliffhanger! A touch too full and he sits deep in his crease, slugs it away past deep midwicket and punches the air in delight! Nawaz has played a blinder and the entire team is euphoric! It's been a brilliant run-chase set up by the man, the myth, the legend - Babar Azam!
Titans vs Colombo, 10th Match at Kandy, LPL, Aug 07 2023 - Match Result
Colombo won by 7 wickets (with 1 ball remaining)
It was an absolute pleasure bringing you the commentary of this exhilarating affair and witnessing a staggering century from Babar Azam with all of you. Until we meet next time, it's goodbye from me, Rvel Zahid. There is another game about to get underway between Dambulla Aura and Jaffna Kings. Do hop over to our coverage for that match https://www.espncricinfo.com/series/lanka-premier-league-2023-1382875/dambulla-aura-vs-jaffna-kings-11th-match-1382888/live-cricket-score
Once again, it was another knock from Babar Azam that exuded elegance and nonchalance right from the powerplay. Babar delivered a masterclass and entertained the crowd royally at Pallekele, regaling millions who were glued to their television sets in Pakistan, along with all of his fans who admire his prowess with the bat. In the end, it turned out to be a riveting cat-and-mouse battle. Although Babar lost his wicket at a crucial juncture, his trusted pal Mohammad Nawaz ensured that his national team's skipper's marathon innings didn't go to waste. A timely six and a four sealed the game.
Babar Azam is second on the list of players with the most centuries in T20 cricket and second only to score 10 hundreds. He is behind the great Chris Gayle, who boasts an impressive 22 tons.
Babar Azam, Player of the Match: We started off well, Later we tried to manage the run rate. I thought 190 to 200 was a good score. Credit to the bowlers, they came back after the 12th over. I was trying to build a partnership and play long and deep. Today, it was a much better wicket.
Dasun Shanaka, Galle Titans Captain: Great game of cricket, we got a start but couldn't capitalize. For me, it was a 200 plus wicket but we lost momentum along the way. We could have changed the team but we believe in our youngsters and hope to continue with them. We gave a few runs easily and dropped a few chances, that's an area that needs to be improved.
Niroshan Dickwella, Colombo Strikers Captain: First of all thanks to my lord, it was so so close. Today from the toss, we made a good collective decision to bowl. At this ground, I don't think any team did good because of tricky outfield and we dropped a few catches. There is a split in my ribs, but I didn't want to leave my teammates out there and wanted to play...we did well as a team. These things happen because Shamsi was bowling, he is a world class bowler, we knw we had wickets in hand, we knew we could win it...we have room to improve.
The night belongs to Babar Azam who is the main protagonist of today's win. It went right down to the wire as Nawaz showed nerves of steel in the end and got the better of Rajitha in the last over. This is the third highest chase at Pallekele and as a result of this win, Colombo have climbed up to the third spot on the table.
Adnankapri: "Brilliant hundred by Babar and extraordinary finish by M Nawaz, Loving from Pakistan."
Ahmad : "Can we have Babar dropping lollipops every match?"
Jawad: "Dont mind me but this match has been Lanka Pakistan league!!!"
Jawad: "Only one man, Dickwella is to be blamed for Strikers defeat (if it happens). Not sending ideal batsman at the end is something of an alarming decision "
Ben: "What a knock by Babar but cranky sending Fernando in, he's been in awful form, cost them the game"
Edhi: "Last Over 14 runs required.... Can be Tricky..."
AB: "Important is to see if Strikers have learnt from their mistakes or not...Few dot balls here and there costed them game and it is heading towards the same again...
HEAVED IT FOR A SIX! Oh my goodness, are you kidding me? He dishes out a rank full toss on off and he just got enough to clear the sweeper cover fielder. 4 off 2!
Pummeled away to mid-off who fumbles and they scamper back for the second run. Will it be another Super Over? 10 off 3. Which way are the scales going to tip?
Spears in on a full-length just outside off, carved away to deep cover and the couple hustles and bustles for a couple of runs
Holes out to long-off! Bit of an anticlimactic end to an otherwise superb knock! Tossed up fuller outside off, just couldn't get underneath it, got toe-end of the bat and Strikers are in deep trouble now. Set batter is back in the hut
Babar just the second to 10 T20 hundreds after Chris Gayle
In the blockhole on off stump, tries to scythe that away past backward point, late in jamming his bat down and that's a precious dot!
Fuller length around off, pushed towards long-off for a run
Wow, just brilliant! Babar Azam gets to his hundred, that's a sublime century as he flicks this leg-side delivery past backward square. Take a bow, it has been an authoritative, well-paced and a brave century. It will be perfect for him and Strikers if he gets them over the line. Job is not done yet!
Chipped in the air and falls short of man at cover! That was slammed into the pitch and he got enough purchase, ugly hoick across the line and nearly lose his wicket
Sits deep in his crease and clonks it off the backfoot to deep midwicket. Is there going to be a twist in the tale?
Well-disguised slower shorter delivery in the channel, went for the late cut but only grabs fresh air
AB: "Important is to see if Strikers have learnt from their mistakes or not...Few dot balls here and there costed them game and it is heading towards the same again..."
Maheesh: "This is very bad batting by Nuwanindu, just had to give strike to babar"
Jawad: "It was bizzare decision from colombo skipper to send a guy like fernando when you have Nawaz or Karunaratne for such occasions"
Mohyuddin: "Colombo team are badly relying on Babar. Other players should step up and deliver to ease some burden from Babar shoulders."
Teddy: "Babar you Legend "
Fahim: "The main reason for losing the match will be their fielding Galle Titans. Very bad fielding. "
Rajat: "Shanka is not utilizing his resources properly. nagarva is the best bowler he has in such situation" he is back
Oh that's a lovely legbreak fuller on off, he patiently maneuvers the ball into the covers and wants to keep the strike
Flighted delivery on middle, mows it downtown and long-on runs across to collect it on one bounce
Holes out to long-on! He was looking to loft it straight down, but mistimes it straight to Shanaka in the deep, who makes no mistake. Lofts it straighter than he wanted to and couldn't get underneath it
That's a lovely googly on a length and it spins away viciously outside off, stays back and tries to muscle it over midwicket, beaten by the turn and bounce
Was getting into shape for a massive slog sweep but ends up wearing it on his pads
Turns it round the corner for a run
AB: "Rvel, all blame to you. I closed the windows after Cricinfo showed Babar Azam to be the batsman dismissed. I came back to check and gosh missed 3 sixes from Babar..." I'm guilty
Firmly rooted on the backfoot and clonked away into the empty spaces at deep midwicket
Another sloppy bit of work in the deep, blasted away to long-off and Shamsi is a bit late in his reaction and the ball skittles away from him
Another one shelled! A touch short and angling across off, he threw the kitchen sink at it, gets the toe-end of the bat and short third jumped, got his fingers on it but then parried it away into the deep
1W | 1W | |||
1W | ||||
Pallekele International Cricket Stadium | |
Toss | Colombo Strikers, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2023 |
Player Of The Match | |
Match days | 07 August 2023 - day (20-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | Colombo Strikers 2, Galle Titans 0 |
Over 20 • CLS 189/3