New Zealand star Mark Chapman showcased his talent in the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024 during the match between the Dambulla Sixers and Colombo Strikers on Thursday, July 16.

In the final game of the league stage, Muhammad Waseem, playing for Colombo, was aggressive and took on pacer Nuwan Pradeep, keeping his team in the hunt for 124 runs. Waseem hit Pradeep for two boundaries and a six in the first four balls of the second over, showing no signs of slowing down.

However, Pradeep made a crucial comeback, ultimately leading to Waseem’s dismissal, thanks to an outstanding effort from Mark Chapman. On the fifth ball of the over, Waseem attempted to clear mid-on but failed to make solid contact. That’s when Chapman sprang into action.

Positioned at mid-on, Chapman sprinted to his right and executed a perfect dive, taking a spectacular catch with both hands to send Waseem packing. With this wicket, the Colombo Strikers found themselves struggling at 16/2.

Following Waseem’s dismissal, Nuwan Pradeep continued to shine, taking wickets at regular intervals and applying pressure on the opposition. After Waseem’s quick 15 runs, the Colombo Strikers collapsed, quickly finding themselves at 88/9.

Skipper Thisara Perera contributed a valuable 30 runs to keep his team in the game, but ultimately, the Strikers were bowled out for just 95 runs, losing the match by 28 runs.

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We gave our all to set a big score – Mohammad Nabi

Dambulla Sixers skipper Mohammad Nabi, who was named Player of the Match for his 40-run performance, reflected on his innings and acknowledged the challenges posed by the tricky pitch. He expressed that the team aimed to post a big score but faced setbacks with early wickets. Speaking after the match, he shared:

“It was a tough game on a tricky pitch. We did our best to set a big total, but losing early wickets hurt us. If I had been able to bat through the last four overs, it could have changed the outcome. I focused on waiting for bad balls and playing simple cricket—watching the ball closely, especially the legspinner’s googlies and flippers.

“On this pitch, the googly and flipper were the most difficult to face. In our huddle, we discussed the need to defend 47 runs and aimed to bowl stump to stump. It’s been a fantastic tournament, and I enjoyed leading the team, but unfortunately, we couldn’t qualify. Overall, it was a great experience, and I truly enjoyed it.”