Sparks expected to fly as unbeaten sides Kandy Falcons, Jaffna Kings clash

• Lanka Premier League moves to Pallekele 

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

At the end of the first-round robin league of matches played at Hambantota Kandy Falcons and Jaffna Kings emerged as the leading contenders to qualify for the Lanka Premier League knockouts with 100% records winning both their matches respectively.

The way two sides have performed so far shows that they have virtually all their bases covered and their bench strength is also very good. They meet for the first time in the tournament today at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium where the LPL matches have now moved to, and sparks are expected for fly with both sides equally matched.

Defending champions Jaffna for instance ran through three changes for their second match against Dambulla Aura despite winning their opening game against Galle Gladiators and yet won with ease. They rested three of their key players and were still strong enough to keep Dambulla Aura down to a small total of 121-9 and knock those runs off losing just one wicket with 26 balls to spare.

Jaffna’s strength has been their spinners Maheesh Theekshana and Vijayakanth Vijaskanth who has not only managed to strangle the opposition’s batting but pick up wickets at crucial stages. Jaffna’s captain Thisara Perera has so many options up his sleeve that he did not bother to go to their Player of the Match in the opening game Dunith Wellalage to send down a few overs in their win against Dambulla Aura. 

Jaffna even left out two of their top order batters Tom Cohler-Cadmore and Rahmanullah Gurbaz (who was of course injured). With such much depth available Jaffna looks like the team to beat. They could probably face their match against Kandy.  Kandy on the other hand has also matched up to Jaffna’s performances with two victories that stamp their authority – crushing Colombo Stars by 109 runs and Galle Gladiators by five wickets. Kandy too has not been too reliant on one single player for their victories but several have contributed to their two victories. 

In Pathum Nissanka and Andre Fletcher they have two openers who can provide them with explosive starts and their middle order with the exception of Kamindu Mendis has not been really tested. Perhaps the encounter with Jaffna might give them that opportunity.

Kandy’s two wins have come from two different bowlers. In the first Wanindu Hasaranga on his debut as captain shone taking four wickets including the LPL’s first hat-trick and, in the second match West Indian Carlos Brathwaite showed how dangerous he can be not only with the bat, but with the ball as well by running through the Galle Gladiators batting capturing four wickets. 

Kandy unlike Jaffna has played an unchanged side in the two matches, but will be forced to make the changes due to the injury to one of their key players Chamika Karunaratne who lost three of his teeth attempting to take a catch in the match against Galle Gladiators.

Tomorrow (Sunday) Colombo Stars will be looking to continue the momentum they got from beating Dambulla Aura by nine runs when they take on bottom of the table Galle Gladiators in the first double-header. 

Considering the fact that they began the tournament on a low key being shot out for 90 by Kandy Falcons, Colombo bounced back to make the second highest total so far with 165-9 which should give them the confidence for the rest of the tournament. As for Galle they need to think out of the box and manufacture a win somehow to lift themselves off the floor. Their problem seems to be with their batting which has yet to click to provide their bowlers with a total to defend. 

Following their top of the table clash with Kandy Falcons today, Jaffna will confront Dambulla Aura, the other team without a win, in the second double-header tomorrow. Like Galle, Dambulla are also seeking their first win and put their first points on the board. Dambulla has to get overcome the problem of throwing away winning advantages.