It was a Deja Vu feeling for both teams as Thisara Perera-led Jaffna Kings once again win the Lanka Premier League (LPL) title again beating the Galle Gladiators. In the end, it turned out to be a one-sided affair as Gladiators fell short of the target by 23 runs after a mini-collapse in the death overs derailed their run chase.
Sensational hitting from Kings
Perera won the toss and elected to bat first at Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium, Hambantota. Jaffna got off to a flier with openers Avishka Fernando and Rahmanullah Gurbaz firing on all cylinders. Gurbaz got out in the sixth over but not before a 35-run cameo off 18 deliveries including three fours and three sixes. Experienced campaigner Samit Patel provided the first breakthrough.
Despite Gurbaz’s wicket, the scoring rate did not go down as in-form Tom Kohler-Cadmore joined Fernando in the middle. Fernando went on to score 63 runs from 41 deliveries. He got out in the 13th over to Nuwan Thushara. His inning included eight fours and two sixes. The two shared a 63-run partnership for the second wicket.
While the Englishman was taking Galle bowlers to the cleaners, Shoaib Malik joined him in the middle. Malik contributed with a useful 11-ball 23. His cameo came to an end in the penultimate over with his countryman Mohammad Amir taking his wicket. Kohler-Cadmore remained not out for 57 off 41 deliveries. His inning was laced with two fours and three sixes. In the last over, Perera helped his side finish with a flourish by hitting two sixes and one four off Dhanjaya Lakshan. The 19-run last over helped Jaffna post a daunting total of 201/3, the third-highest total of the season.
Galle’s good start, poor finish
Chasing 202, Danushka Gunathilaka kep the game alive his quickfire 54. Gunathilaka took most of the strike till the time he was at the crease. He faced just 21 deliveries to score 54. The southpaw went ballistic with the field restrictions on and hit seven fours and three sixes during his short yet entertaining stay at the crease. With his wicket on the second ball of the fifth over, Perera breathed a sigh of relief. Wanindu Hasaranga provided the much-needed breakthrough. He followed it up with the wicket of Australian wicketkeeper-batter Ben Dunk off the very next delivery.
Opener Kusal Mendis tried to play the role of an anchor but did not get much support from the other end as wickets kept falling. Experienced Pakistan batter Mohammad Hafeez failed to stay long at the crease whereas skipper Bhanuka Rajapaksa struggled for boundary. In the 16th over, Mendis’ patience also ran out and he lost his wicket. With required run rate getting out of hand, Galle’s lower order batters and tailenders failed to put up a fight and could post 178/9 in stipulated 20 overs.
Last year, Jaffna Kings (then Jaffna Stallians) had beaten Galle Gladiators in a similar fashion. Chasing 189, Rajapaksa’s side crumbled and could manage to score only 135/9 in reply.
