Tuesday Dec 24, 2024
Tuesday Dec 24, 2024
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George Munsey top scored for Kandy Bolts with 61 off 27 balls
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| Kusal Mendis was the mainstay of the Jaffna Titans batting with 47 off 25 balls |
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| Jaffna Titans spinner Traveen Mathew celebrates a dismissal on his way to a 4-wicket haul |
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| Bhanuka Rajapaksa found his form with 42 off 21 balls for Galle Marvels in the Eliminator
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By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
It will be a repeat of Qualifier 1 when Jaffna Titans take on Hambantota Bangla Tigers in the final of the inaugural Lanka T10 Super League at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium today.
Jaffna won Qualifier 1 against Hambantota to go straight into the final, and was joined by Hambantota who won Qualifier 2 beating Galle Marvels.
The formidable Jaffna Titans continued their unbeaten run in the tournament by trouncing Hambantota by 39 runs in Qualifier 1. Playing like a well-oiled machine, Jaffna could not put a foot wrong as they simply swept aside the opposition with another sterling all-round display. Hambantota did well to keep Jaffna down to a total of 124-4. In fact, Hambantota restricted the strong Jaffna batting unit to 47-1, their lowest score in the first five overs. But in reply, Hambantota’s batting was destroyed for 85, becoming the first team in the tournament to be bowled out.
Pramod Madushan’s double strike in his first over to get rid of two of the biggest hitters in white-ball cricket – Dasun Shanaka (5) and Kusal Perera (2) – proved a big setback for Hambantota. The over cost only three runs. By the halfway stage, Hambantota were 40-5.
Jaffna lost the services of Dunith Wellalage, a key player in their line-up, when he split the webbing between thumb and forefinger of his bowling hand while fielding. Jaffna, however, made up for his loss with off-spinner Traveen Mathew stepping in to capture 4/13, including three wickets in his final over, which broke the back of the Hambantota batting. Mathew, who took the Player of the Match award, became the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, taking his tally to 12 from six matches.
Kusal Mendis continued his good form with another swashbuckling knock of 47 off 25 balls (2 fours, 4 sixes), batting throughout the innings to be last man out. Just when it seemed like Jaffna was not getting anywhere close to a winning total, Captain David Wiese made a tactical move by retiring out Tom Abell and replacing him, playing a cameo knock of 18* off 5 balls (1 four, 2 sixes) to get his team to a competitive score.
Kandy Bolts became the third team to be eliminated from the tournament when they lost the Eliminator to Galle Marvels by six wickets.
Invited to bat first, Kandy rode on Scotsman George Munsey’s half-century (61 off 27 balls, 5 fours, 4 sixes) to run up a score of 120-4. Kandy was unfortunate to lose the services of Dinesh Chandimal, who was forced to retire hurt with some discomfort in his right shoulder. He was batting well, having struck 2 fours and 2 sixes in his 30* off 14 balls.
Galle knocked the runs off with eight balls to spare. Player of the Match Bhanuka Rajapaksa found his form with a powerful knock of 42 off 21 balls (4 fours, 3 sixes) and former Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan put the finishing touches to the match with 29* off 8 balls (2 fours, 3 sixes).
Galle, however, came second best when they had to play back-to-back matches, taking on Hambantota Bangla Tigers in Qualifier 2 a few minutes from completing their Eliminator game against Kandy.
Batting first, Galle managed only a 90-9 total, which was insufficient for their bowlers to defend even though Captain Maheesh Theekshana tried his best, taking two successive wickets in the first over and then picking up a third to end with figures of 3/13.
Galle’s batting was derailed by two bowlers taking two wickets in an over in the innings.
Dhananjaya Lakshan dismissed Sandun Weerakkody (6) and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (0) in the first over. The ambidextrous Tharindu Ratnayake removed Alex Hales and Lahiru Udara in the third to have Galle reeling at 24-4. Only a late flourish from Movin Subasingha (32* off 14 balls, 2 fours, 3 sixes) saw them reach 90.
With not such a big asking rate, Hambantota romped home with three overs to spare. Kusal Perera thumped 22 off 10 balls, Shevon Daniel 36 off 17, and skipper Dasun Shanaka 20 off 8.
Results
Jaffna Titans 124-4 (10) (Kusal Mendis 47, Tom Abell 23*)
Hambantota Bangla Tigers 85 (9.3) (Isuru Udana 23, Pramod Madushan 2/15, Traveen Mathew 4/13)
Kandy Bolts 120-4 (10) (Dinesh Chandimal rtd ht 30, George Munsey 61)
Galle Marvels 124-4 (8.4) (Bhanuka Rajapaksa 42, Shakib Al Hasan 29*, Chaturanga de Silva 2/6)
Galle Marvels 90-9 (10) (Movin Subasingha 32*, Dhananjaya Lakshan 2/14, Tharindu Ratnayake 2/13, Eshan Malinga 3/10, Isuru Udana 2/17)
Hambantota Bangla Tigers 94-6 (7) (Kusal Perera 22, Shevon Daniel 36, Dasun Shanaka 20, Maheesh Theekshana 3/13, Zahoor Khan 2/9)
Shevon Daniel scores runs for Hambantota Bangla Tigers in his innings of 36 off 17 balls
