Lanka Premier League: Jaffna Kings defeat Dambulla Giants, enter final

The Jaffna Kings reserved a place in the Lanka Premier League final after beating Dambulla Giants by 23 runs. They will play Galle Gladiators in the final. After posting a humungous total of 210/4, the Kings restricted the Giants to 187/9 in their 20 overs. Jayden Seales was the pick of the bowlers for the Kings with figures of 3/24. Philip Salt and Captain Niroshan Dickwella got the Giants off to a great start with an opening partnership of 39 runs in 3.3 overs, however, after Suranga Lakmal dismissed Salt, the Giants kept losing wickets at regular intervals. Chamika Karunaratne played an extraordinary innings of 75* runs from 47 balls, but he didn’t find support from the other end as the Giants eventually fell short of their target.

Earlier, Jaffna Kings’ opening batters Avishka Fernando and Rahmanullah Gurbaz put up a fantastic opening stand of 122 runs in 13.2 overs. Fernando scored a century off 64 balls, while Gurbaz notched 70 runs from 40 balls. Fernando struck 10 boundaries and 4 sixes during his innings, meanwhile, Gurbaz smashed 5 fours and 4 sixes during his knock.

Galle Gladiators book a place in the final

Earlier, the Galle Gladiators had defeated Jaffna Kings by 64 runs in Qualifier 1 on Sunday and booked a place in the Lanka Premier League Final. After posting a total of 188/5, the Galle Gladiators bowled out the Jaffna Kings for 124 in 16.5 overs. The Kings couldn’t find the momentum during their chase as they kept losing wickets at regular intervals. 

Nuwan Thushara was the pick of the bowlers for the Gladiators with figures of 5/13. Rahmanullah Gurbaz was the only highlight in the Jaffna Kings’ batting card with an innings of 59 runs from 37 balls, laced with 4 boundaries and 3 sixes. 

Earlier, opening batters Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka set the platform for the Galle Gladiators with an opening partnership of 121 runs in 13.2 overs. Mendis played an innings of 85 runs from 53 balls, laced with 7 boundaries and 4 sixes, while Gunathilaka scored 55 runs from 42 balls. He struck 6 boundaries and 1 six in his innings. 

Captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa played a quick-fire innings of 25 runs from 15 balls in the latter part of the innings and helped the Gladiators put up an imposing total on the board.

‘Overall, I am really happy about my performance’

Meanwhile, Colombo Stars’ leading performer Dinesh Chandimal opened up on the franchises’ campaign at the Lanka Premier League 2021, saying that the team can take plenty of positives from the season despite making a few mistakes. On a personal level, Chandimal had a fantastic season as he smashed 277 runs in 9 games at an average of 46.17 and a whopping strike rate of 150.54. The Sri Lanka veteran explained how he enjoyed the new role that was given to him by the coach and the captain. 

“Before the start of the tournament, the captain and the coach asked me to bat at no. 6. They gave me the finishing role. In T20 cricket, this is a new role for me. I think I did well for Colombo Stars this season. Unfortunately, we could not make it through to the final as a team. Overall, I am really happy about my performance,” he said.

Chandimal then went on to sum up the season for the franchise. “I think we played some outstanding cricket throughout the tournament, but in patches. In some games, we made mistakes. So, it’s a mixed feeling. Sometimes, you are happy and sometimes you are sad. I think, overall, we have done well as a team.”