Opener Andre Fletcher hit his third fifty of the season and second in the last three games to lead the Kandy Falcons to a 54-run win over the Dambulla Sixers in Lanka Premier League action at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Monday.

The Falcons posted an imposing 222-4 from their 20 overs after being put in to bat by the Sixers.

Fletcher hit just one four and seven sixes on his way to a top score of 60 from 34 balls while Kamindu Mendis hit 51* off 24 balls including five fours and two sixes.

Angelo Mathews also finished 44* off 23 balls, hitting five sixes in the process.

Dushan Hemantha took 3-14 from his four overs for the Sixers.

Dambulla were then reduced to 168-9 from their 20 overs in reply despite 74 off 40 balls from Kusal Perera.

Captain Wanindu Hasaranga took 4-35 from his four overs for the Falcons while Dasun Shanaka took 3-29 from four overs in support.

Full Scores:

Kandy Falcons 222-4 off 20 overs (Andre Fletcher 60, Kamindu Mendis 51*, Angelo Mathews 44*, Dushan Hemantha 3-14)

Dambulla Sixers 168-9 off 20 overs (Kusal Perera 74, Mark Chapman 24, Wanindu Hasaranga 4-35, Dasun Shanaka 3-29)

Andre Fletcher’s Kandy Falcons opened the 2024 Lanka Premier League season with a six-wicket win over the Dambulla Sixers at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Monday.

The Sixers, after being put in to bat by the Falcons, first posted a respectable 179-4 from their 20 overs.

New Zealand’s Mark Chapman led the way with an excellent unbeaten 91* off 61 balls including eight fours and four sixes while Chamindu Wickramsinghe provided excellent support with 62* off 42 balls including four fours and three sixes.

Dasun Shanaka took 3-20 from his four overs for the Falcons.

Then, despite a first-ball duck from Fletcher at the top of the innings, the Falcons successfully reached 183-4 off just 17.2 overs.

Fletcher’s opening partner Dinesh Chandimal led the way with a 40-ball 65 including six fours and three sixes while Shanaka and Angelo Matthews provided the finishing touches with 46* off 15 balls and 37* off 20 balls, respectively.

Full Scores:

Dambulla Sixers 179-4 off 20 overs (Mark Chapman 91*, Chamindu Wickramsinghe 62*, Dasun Shanaka 3-20)

Kandy Falcons 183-4 off 17.2 overs (Dinesh Chandimal 65, Dasun Shanaka 46*, Angelo Matthews 37*)

The league continues on Tuesday with the Jaffna Kings taking on the Galle Marvels at 4:30 AM before the Colombo Strikers take on the Kandy Falcons at 9:00 AM (Jamaica Time).

Both games will be shown live on Sportsmax.