B-Love Kandy hand Jaffna King fourth defeat
Angelo Mathews chipped in with 22 and followed with a three wicket haul to dismantle Jaffna
A strong all-round performance saw B-Love Kandy clinched their fourth straight win beating defending champions by 8 runs in an Lanka Premier League group match played at R. Premadasa Stadium last afternoon. Having lost the first two games in the fourth season of the LPL, the team from Kandy were under tremendous pressure but Wanindu Hasaranga’s men had shown tremendous composure, winning all four games played thereafter.
After Mohammad Haris with a masterful half century (81 off 51 balls) guided them to an imposing total of 178/8, their bowling unit led by Angelo Mathews handed Jaffna Kings their fourth defeat in the season. Haris, playing only his second game in the season blasted two sixes and ten fours in his blistering knock and shared 51 runs for the first wicket with Fakhar Zaman who made 22 off 17 balls.
Mathews who failed to make it to the Asia Cup team, made 22 off 18 balls but it was his bowling that dented the Jaffna’s run chase. Mathews removed openers Nishan Madushka (8), Rahmanulla Gurbaz (1) and Charith Asalanka (2) in quick succession to leave the Jaffna Kings reeling at 3 for 16 in the fifth over. Mathews had excellent figures of 3/10 in three overs.
Jaffna Kings skipper Thisara Perera and Shoaib Malik fought hard in the death overs but fell short of taking them over the line. Perera and Malik shared 60 runs in five overs before Perera departed for 36 runs off 20 balls with 13 balls left in the game. Malik remained unbeaten on 55 off 37 balls, his second unbeaten half century in the season.
| B-Love Kandy 178 for 8 (20) (Mohammad Haris 81, Fakhar Zaman 22, Angelo Mathews 22; Nuwan Thushara 3/31, Dunith Wellalage 2/43, Dilshan Madushanka 2/31) Jaffna Kings 170 for 6 (20) (Shoaib Malik 55n.o., Thisara Perera 36, Chris Lynn 27, David Miller 24; Angelo Mathews 3/10, Nuwan Pradeep 2/38) | |