Jaffna Kings prevail in a thriller
It was near but yet far for Kandy Falcons who needed 17 runs in the last over and Ramesh Mendis almost brought them to the winning post, But they fell short by two runs which ensured a thrilling 1-run win for Jaffna Kings in the Qualifier 2 of the fifth Lanka Premier League at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.
An unbeaten 105 in 54 balls inclusive of 12 boundaries and five sixes by Kusal Mendis and supported by spin pair Fabian Allen and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth, almost turned out to be in vain but Jaffna Kings pulled off a thriller. The win saw three-time LPL winners Jaffna Kings who won the first three editions, qualifying to the final for the fourth time in five years, They will meet Galle Marvels, who were their victims in the first two editions and also to whom Jaffna Kings lost the Qualifier 1 encounter played three days ago.
Kandy Falcons though given a good start by openers Dinesh Chandimal and Andre Fletcher lost their way after the separation of the pair with Chandimal’s dismissal. Fletcher did not last long. Kamindu Mendis and Mohammad Haris made efforts to steady the innings the latter fell victim to Viyaskanth having added 31 runs for the third wicket with Mendis.
With their top batsmen back in the pavilion on 144 for 8 in the 18th over Kandy Falcons were way behind. Ramesh Mendis who remained unbeaten on 30 in just 11 balls, coming in at the fall of the seventh wicket, and Pavan Ratnayake changed the complexion of the match. They began swinging with success to some extent but unfortunately it came too late and the pair’s unbroken stand of 42 runs for the ninth wicket proved to be in vain.
Earlier Jaffna Kings, put into bat first, was given a sedate start of 47 in 34 balls by openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis. After Nissanka’s dismissal Mendis shared brief partnerships whilst posting his team’s 50 runs in 35 balls and racing to his half ton in 23 balls. The 100 runs on the board came in 67 balls and in the process he shared a stand of 37 runs for the third wicket with Avishka Fernando.
They lost two quick wickets for the addition 36 runs, sliding from 101 for 3 to 137 for 5 by the 16th over. Mendis found a steady partner in Azmatullah Omarzai, who was severe as he paid scant respect to the Kandy Falcons bowlers. The pair accumulated their runs with ease as Mendis reached his ton off 51 balls.
Right-arm pacie Mohammad Hasnain made the breakthrough for Kandy Falcons with the wicket of Omarzai, who made a brisk 26 runs in only 13 balls with a boundary and three sixes and associating in a quick-fire 44 runs in 21 balls for the sixth wicket as Jaffna Kings ended with a challenging score of 187 for 7 with Mendis remaining unbeaten on 105 made in just 54 balls.
The final is scheduled to be played today at the same venue from 7:30pm with Jaffna Kings meeting Galle Marvels.
| Brief Scores | |
| Jaffna Kings 187 for 7 (20) (Kusal Mendis 105n.o., Azmatullah Imarzai 26, Pathum Nissanka 18; Ramesh Mendis 2/10, Chathuranga de Silva 2/22, Mohammad Hasnain 2/48) Kandy Falcons 186 for 8 (20) (Andre Fletcher 38, Kamindu Mendis 32, Ramesh Mendis 30n.o., Mohammad Haris 26, Angelo Mathews 18; Fabian Allen 4/24, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 3/30) |