Thomas and Fletcher lead Falcons to victory

Jamaican pacer Oshane Thomas and Grenadian wicketkeeper-batsman Andre Fletcher anchored Kandy Falcons to a convincing nine-wicket win against Colombo Stars in the Lanka Premier League on Saturday.

Thomas took 3-20 from four overs in the match played at the Premadasa Stadium, but Chamika Karunaratne was the most successful Falcons bowler with 4-11 from 3.1 overs, and the Stars were bowled out for 106 in 19.1 overs after they elected to bat.

Fletcher hit a run-a-ball 44 not out that included four fours and two sixes and shared 101 for the second wicket with Sri Lanka international Kamindu Mendis, whose run-a-ball, unbeaten 51 contained only five fours, and the Falcons comfortably reached their target with 24 balls remaining.

The Falcons, whose squad also includes left-arm spin bowling all-rounder Fabian Allen and former West Indies Twenty20 International captain Carlos Brathwaite, remained at the top of the standings with 12 points after winning six of their seven matches.

Allen got Charith Asalanka caught at square leg for 12 in the fifth over as the Stars slumped to 44 for six at the close of the Power Play before Thomas struck three times in his second over to destroy any hopes of a comeback from the hosts.

He got former England batsman Ravi Bopara caught behind for one with the first delivery, Benny Howell caught at third man for a first-ball duck next delivery, and Karim Janat caught at point by Fletcher for one with the final delivery, sinking Stars to 46 for seven in the seventh over.

Veteran Sri Lanka international Angelo Matthews defied the Falcons attack for the top score of 41 from 38 balls that included four fours and one six and got the Stars past 100 before he was the last man out caught at long-off to become the last of Karunaratne’s scalps.

In a later match of a double-header, Barbadian all-rounder Matthew Forde took one for 23 in two overs, and Dambulla Aura beat Galle Gladiators by 48 runs to clinch their first win of the tournament. (CMC)