Jaffna Kings roar back to inflict first defeat on Galle Titans

• Wellalage, Gurbaz shine for defending champions

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Defending champions Jaffna Kings roared back from their defeat at the hands of Dambulla Aura three days ago to crush table leaders Galle Titans by eight wickets in the Lanka Premier League second double-header match played under lights at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Jaffna made light of Galle’s total of 117-9 by racing to the target in 12.4 overs which would have immensely contributed to their net run rate which was minus following their defeat against Dambulla.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz led the charge for Jaffna with a powerfully hit half-century (54 off 39 balls, 3 fours, 5 sixes), his fifth fifty in LPL and with Towhid Hridoy (44* off 23 balls, 2 fours, 4 sixes) shared a second wicket stand of 83 off 52 balls to simply take the game away from Galle.

Hridoy ended the match in style for Jaffna hitting Akila Dhananjaya for two consecutive sixes with the hapless spinner conceding 45 runs in his 2.4 overs that included six sixes.Galle’s batting was strangled by spinners Dunith Wellalage and Maheesh Theekshana who came to terms with the slow turning pitch and between them bowled 32 dot balls. Wellalage hitting a good length proved unplayable as he went onto return career best T20 figures of 4/10 to take the Player of the Match award.

Theekshana proved an ideal foil conceding 19 runs for one wicket as all the Galle batsmen struggled to get the ball off the square. Skipper Dasun Shanaka tried to hit his way out of trouble but eventually fell for 30, which more or less ended Galle’s resistance.

Scores: Galle Titans 117-9 (20) (Shevon Daniel 25, Dasun Shanaka 30, N Burger 2/15, D Wellalage 4/10)

Jaffna Kings 120-2 (12.4) (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 54, Towhid Hridoy 44*)