Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Sunday Dec 22, 2024
Monday, 15 July 2024 01:56 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
Shadab Khan of Colombo Strikers ripped through the Jaffna Kings batting with four wickets
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
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Rahmanullah Gurbaz made short work of Jaffna Kings target with an unbeaten 57
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Three-time winner Jaffna Kings completed their matches of the Lanka Premier League with a massive nine-wicket loss to Colombo Strikers with 61 balls to spare, a result that has hit their net run rate badly, pushing it into the minus category.
The second double header of the day played at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday saw Colombo come up with a dominant performance restricting Jaffna to a sub-par total of 109-9 and then knocking those runs off in 9.5 overs to keep their hopes of finishing in the top two of the league standings alive with two matches to play.
Jaffna have already qualified to play in the playoffs with Galle Marvels, who now become the new league leaders. Colombo are lying third and have a chance of topping the table if they win their last two matches.
Asked to bat first, Jaffna came up with a disappointing effort. They never really got going after losing Pathum Nissanka in the first over as wickets continued to tumble so that they were reduced to 54-7 at one stage. Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (24* off 34 balls), who survived a close lbw shout off the first ball, then ensured that Jaffna bat out their 20 overs and go past the three-figure mark, adding useful partnerships with Pramod Madushan and Eshan Malinga.
Colombo were outstanding with the ball and agile in the field. Leg-spinner Shadab Khan took four wickets (4/10) for the third time in the tournament, as he ripped through the spine of the Jaffna batting line-up. No one really managed to get in, and only a late tail-wag partnership pushed Jaffna beyond the 100-mark.
Colombo made light work of the chase with Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Angelo Perera setting the mood when they smashed 16 runs off the first over. Although Perera fell for 16, Muhammad Waseem joined Gurbaz in a rollicking partnership of 87 off 45 balls to see Colombo home comfortably.
Gurbaz played the role of the aggressor in the powerplay, as he raced to 50 off 30 balls (4 fours, 3 sixes). Waseem chipped in with 35* off 18 balls (2 fours, 3 sixes) as the pair finished the match off in style with Waseem going down on one knee and hitting Malinga for six.
Today’s Matches: Kandy Falcons v Dambulla Sixers (3 p.m.), Colombo Strikers v Galle Marvels (7:30 p.m.)
Scores:
Jaffna Kings 109-9 (20) (Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 25*, Binura Fernando 2/24, Shadab Khan 4/10)
Colombo Strikers 112-1 (9.5) (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 57*, Muhammad Waseem 35*)
