LPL: Jaffna Kings demolish Colombo Stars

Jaffna Kings beat the Colombo Stars by a huge margin of 93 runs in the 9th match of Lanka Premier League.

The match was reduced to 18 overs per side because the rain delayed the start of the match. 

Jaffna Kings    18 overs     207-6

T. Perera 57(23)       Prasanna 3-31                                                                                                                             S. Malik   44(24)       Priyanjan 1-23

Colombo Stars  15.5 overs  114 all-out 

Priyanjan   35(25)      Theekshana 4-25                                                                                                           Chandimal 28(20)      W. Riaz         4-26

Colombo Stars won the toss and elected to field first.

They even made a great start with the bowl as they dismissed Rahmanullah Gurbaz on the very first ball of the match.

Jaffna Kings lost both of their openers on just 10 runs in 2 overs but Tom Kohler-Cadmore and Shoaib Malik changed the momentum of the game with their partnership.

They smoked 59 runs in the next 4 overs to end the Powerplay with a score of 69-2

Cadmore was dismissed in the 7th over after playing a brilliant 40 runs knock off just 21 balls.

His innings included 3 fours and 3 sixes.

Ashen Bandara then joined Malik to register another fiery partnership of 44 runs.

Malik got dismissed in the 11th over after scoring 45 runs off 24 balls (including 4 fours and 2 sixes). 

Thisara Perera’s power show

The skipper, Thisara Perera then came onto the crease in full hitting form.

The experienced all-rounder smashed the bowl all around the ground in the death overs.

He had a small partnership with Bandara (42 off 30) but after his dismissal, Perera shifted his gears and scored a rapid 57 runs off just 23 balls.

This superb knock from Perera included 3 fours and 5 huge sixes.

Due to this brilliant batting display from the middle order, Jaffna Kings finished their innings on a huge score of 207 runs with the loss of 6 wickets in 18 overs. 

Outstanding start by the Jaffna bowlers

Colombo Stars had a very horrible start to their chase as they also lost their 1st wicket of Kusal Perera on 0 runs just like Jaffna Kings.

Tom Banton tried to reduce the pressure by hitting a six and two fours, he was looking good on 18 runs but lost his wicket in the 3rd over and became the second scalp of Theekshana in the match.

Wahab Riaz picked up 2 wickets in 2 balls in the 4 over including the important wicket of Sherfane Rutherford. 

The half side of Colombo Stars was dismissed on just 32 runs while chasing a total of 208 runs in 18 overs.

Priyanjan and Chandimal tried their best to lessen the losing margin as much as possible.

They registered a 64 runs partnership for the 6th wicket to save their side from being dismissed below the 100 run mark.

After the dismissal of these two, the remaining wickets came very quickly for the Kings.

The Colombo Stars were cleaned up on just 114 runs in 15.5 overs.

Maheesh Theekshana and Wahab Riaz were the star performers with the bowl for Jaffna Kings as both of them picked up wickets each in their 4 overs.

Hasaranga also supported them nicely by picking up 2 wickets for just 17 runs in 4 overs.