Explosive batsman Dasun Shanaka led his Dambulla Viikings team in their opening match of the LPL against Kandy Tuskers with a punishing knock of 73 in a total of 195 at the MRICS in Hambantota yesterday.
Shanaka clobbered 73 in just 37 balls with four sixes and eight fours while Sanit Patel with 58 with two sixes and five fours joined in to cane the bowlers.
The Viikings suffered some setbacks when they lost opener Oshada Fernando for just 10 runs when he had to retire hurt and taken away on a stretcher after busting his knee in going for a run.
Co-opener Niroshan Dickwella fell for 25 and Upul Tharanga who replaced Fernando made just 18 before Shanaka and Patel came together to salvage the innings.
The Kandy Tuskers were 84 for 3 in 10 overs when rain intervened while the Dambulla team were ahead on the run-rate.