After approximately three weeks of intense cricketing action in Sri Lanka, the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 has crowned a new champion as B-Love Kandy emerged victorious in the thrilling final against Dambulla Aura.
The 2023 edition of the Lanka Premier League kicked off on July 30th, with the defending champions, Jaffna Kings, securing an opening victory against Colombo Striker. As the tournament progressed, four teams – Dambulla Aura, Galle Titans, Jaffna Kings, and eventual champions B-Love Kandy – advanced to the playoffs of the Lanka Premier League 2023.
In the first qualifier match, Dambulla Aura triumphed over Galle Titans, setting up a showdown with B-Love Kandy in the second qualifier. B-Love Kandy had previously defeated the defending champions, Jaffna Kings, in the eliminator.
The grand finale took place at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, where Dambulla Aura won the toss and chose to bat first. However, they could only manage to post a total of 148 runs in their allotted 20 overs. The target appeared attainable, and B-Love Kandy achieved it with just one over to spare, losing five wickets in the process.
With the conclusion of the grand finale, let’s take a closer look at the award winners and prize money for the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023:
Safe Hands of the Tournament:
This prestigious award recognized the player with the most catches throughout the competition. David Miller was bestowed with this honor and received a prize of US Dollar 1000 (equivalent to 83 Thousand INR at the current exchange rate), along with a mobile phone.
Maximum Sixes:
Sri Lankan cricketer Wanindu Hasaranga showcased his batting prowess by hitting an impressive 14 sixes during the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023. This remarkable feat earned him the Maximum Sixes award, along with a prize of US Dollar 1000.
Emerging Player of the Tournament:
The emerging player of the tournament title was awarded to Dambulla Aura’s young batter, Lasith Croospulle. The 24-year-old displayed his talent by scoring 232 runs in eight matches.
Most Wickets:
Wanindu Hasaranga, representing the champion side B-Love Kandy, was the standout bowler of the tournament. He claimed a remarkable 19 wickets from 10 matches, earning him a prize of US Dollar 1500.
Most Runs:
Wanindu Hasaranga continued his exceptional performance, this time as a batsman. He emerged as the leading run-scorer in the tournament, accumulating 279 runs in 10 matches. For this achievement, he received US Dollar 1500 (equivalent to 1 Lakh 24 Thousand INR at the current exchange rate).
Player of the Tournament:
Wanindu Hasaranga’s outstanding contributions in various aspects of the game led to a clean sweep of awards, including the prestigious Player of the Tournament title for the Lanka Premier League 2023. He was rewarded with US Dollar 5000 (equivalent to 4 Lakh 15 Thousand INR at the current exchange rate).
Runners-up:
Despite an impressive performance throughout the tournament and finishing at the top of the league stage table, Dambulla Aura had to settle for the runners-up position. They received medals and a cash prize of US Dollar 50000 (equivalent to 41 Lakh 59 Thousand INR at the current exchange rate).
Champions:
B-Love Kandy, who initially finished the regular season in third place, overcame significant challenges, including an eliminator and the second qualifier, to reach the final and ultimately emerge as champions. Their remarkable victory earned them a cash prize of US Dollar 100000 (equivalent to 83 Lakh 18 Thousand INR at the current exchange rate).
The Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 witnessed thrilling cricketing action, culminating in B-Love Kandy’s triumphant championship win. Wanindu Hasaranga’s exceptional all-around performances earned him multiple accolades, and the tournament showcased the talent and competitive spirit of Sri Lankan cricket.
