Colombo Stars vs Dambulla Giants, 11th Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

A cliff-hanger to finish off today's action in the Lanka Premier league. We'll be back with another double-header tomorrow. Do join us for all the action. For now, cheers and bye..

Dasun Shanaka | Winning captain - It was very tough, I think I made the right decision, credit to Chamika for bowling that last over. I thought the spinner (Jayathilaka) would be the one bowling the last over, but then felt Chamika, with his variations and execution, would be very useful and he proved it. We will look to give some of the other guys an opportunity, to see how they go about, before the playoffs.

Dhananjaya de Silva | Losing captain - It was a hard fought game and unfortunately one team had to lose. We need runs from the top-order, if that happens, we'll be in the game big time.

Tharindu Ratnayake | Player of the Match - Really happy with my performance, the pressure was there, but we took our chances.

23:19 Local Time, 17:49 GMT, 23:19 IST: It shouldn't have come to the last ball, but Dambulla have held their nerve to seal a 1-run victory. The Stars were never really in the chase, spin took control and they couldn't find a way out - Wickets fell in regular intervals, runs came in trickle and the pressure grew. Dinesh Chandimal though batted on another pitch - ran the ones and twos, found the boundaries and then hit his targets with ease. Nuwan Pradeep conceded 21 and 14 in the 17th and 19th over, but he couldn't get the final 13 needed off the 20th over. Did his level best, but that wasn't enough for his team, who continue to languish at the bottom of the table.

Karunaratne to Chandimal, FOUR, Dambulla Giants win by 1 run. Chandimal lays flat on the ground, he came so close to pulling it off, but Karunaratne has held his nerve and delivered for his team and his captain - short of a length and angling into the right-hander - Chandimal swung around on the pull, didn't get anwyhere near the middle of the bat and the ball bounces once before crossing the rope - at deep backward square leg

So, Stars need a 6 to pull off the heist - Naveen-ul-Haq has a word with his partner who surveys the field

Karunaratne to Chandimal, 2 runs, fuller length delivery and well wide of off, Chandimal drilled the drive over cover - but the fielder at long-off runs across to his left and keeps them down to a couple of runs

8 needed from 2 balls. More field placements from Shanaka

Karunaratne to Chandimal, no run, slower ball at the stumps, Chandimal swings hard and can only manage a thick inside edge to mid-wicket, refuses the single

Naveen-ul-Haq, right handed bat, comes to the crease

8 needed from 3 balls. Mathews can only watch from the dressing room

Karunaratne to Chameera, out Caught&Bowled!! Karunaratne calls for the catch and he takes it with ease, at least the batters crossed. Banged in short and it became too big for Chameera - backed away on the pull, hit high on the bat and it lobbed back in the path of the bowler. Karunaratne runs across and takes the catch with minimal fuss. Chameera c and b Karunaratne 0(1)

Karunaratne to Chameera, THATS OUT!! Caught&Bowled!!

8 needed from 4 balls

Karunaratne to Chandimal, 1 run, short of a good length and just outside off - Chandimal has a hack and gets a thick inside edge, past the leg-stump and scampers across for a quick single

Karunaratne to Chandimal, FOUR, clattered, a boundary to start the over, width on offer and Chandimal smashes the cut, in front of square on the off-side and the man in the deep has no chance

Chamika Karunaratne, right-arm fast medium, comes into the attack

13 needed from the final over. The good thing for the Stars is that Chandimal is on strike and he's up against the inexperienced Sachithra Jayathilaka? Big pressure on the shoulders of the 24-year old - he's getting his instructions done, the first couple of balls would be crucial. No, a late call from Shanaka and he hands the ball to Chamika Karunaratne, he hasn't bowled so far this night and has been asked to defend 13 runs

Pradeep to Chandimal, 1 run, 14 from the over, slower short ball wide of off - Chandimal has no pace on the cut, went with hard hands and skewed it towards deep point - Tahir does well to watch the spin as he stops it