Lanka Premier League 3: Jaffna Kings make it two-in-two

Reigning champions Jaffna Kings lit up the second day by a resounding 9-wicket routing of Dambulla Aura in registering back to back wins with Sadeera Samarawickrama stroking an unbeaten 62 off 44 and Avishka Fernando 51 off 49 in chasing down 122 with 26 balls to spare on Wednesday.

Fernando was out with the Kings 5 runs away from victory which came in the next two deliveries with Ashan Randika unbeaten on 4. Dambulla Aura, led by Dasun Shanaka, batting first totalled 121 for 9 in 20 overs at MRICS, Hambantota.

Dambulla’s opening batsman Jordan Cox hit a cameo 43’off 22 buffered by 4 sixes and 3 boundaries in hoisting 63 for the first wicket off 7.4 overs with Shevon Daniel who made 19 off 26 with a six and boundary.

But the rest of the top order flopped with only two others Bhanuka Rajapaksa 18 and Ramesh Mendis 10 reaching double figures. Jaffna Kings Mahesh Theekshana and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth took 3 for 20 and 3 for 24 respectively. Player of the Match Sadeera Samarawickrama exulted in the words that ‘I was waiting for the big one and am indeed overjoyed that I have achieved this feat on the big stage.

(Pics - SLC)

CHIEF SCORES:

Dambulla Aura: 121/9 (20 Overs) (Jordan Cox 43, Shevon Daniel 19, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 18, Ramesh Mendis 10, Mahesh Theekshana 3/20, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 3/24, James Fuller 2/16) beaten by

Jaffna Kings: 122/1 (15.4 Overs) (Sadeera Samarawickrama n.o. 62, Avishka Fernando 51, Ashan Randika n.o. 4, Noor Ahamad 1/28)