Dominant Jaffna Kings wins another rain-hit contest

Charith Asalanka was in good touch for Kandy Warriors, scoring an undefeated 44 off 34 balls

Defending champions Jaffna Kings won another rain-truncated match to continue their dominance in the ongoing Lanka Premier League, putting to the sword on this occasion the luckless Kandy Warriors by seven wickets (D/L method) in the first of the double-headers played at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

The toss played a crucial part in this game, and Thisara Perera, the Jaffna Kings skipper, calling correctly, opted to bowl first, knowing that rain was around and could disrupt the innings.

Quite rightly, the Kandy innings was twice interrupted by rain at 47/1 at the end of seven overs, and again at 94/2 in 12.2 overs, at which point the downpour ensured the end of their innings. Charith Asalanka was in great touch, picking the gaps nicely and hitting two sixes and as many fours in his unbeaten 44* when the weather curtailed his skillful innings.

Jaffna’s target was revised under the Duckworth/Lewis method to 95 off 10 overs and they set about getting to it with disdain, showing scant respect for the opposition bowlers.

Avishka Fernando smacked three fours and a six in his 23 from 12 balls, and after another powerful striker of the ball – Tom Kohler-Cadmore – was dismissed for 12 off 10 balls, Shoaib Malik (14* off 9 balls) and Perera 29* off 13 balls, inclusive of a four fours and a six, saw Jaffna home comfortably with eight balls to spare. Malik, who also took a 1/19, turning his arm over for the first time in the tournament, won the Player of the Match award.

Former England cricketer Ravi Bopara, representing Kandy, was reduced merely to a spectator, neither getting the opportunity to bat or bowl in his 400th T20 match. – (ST)

Result:

Kandy Warriors 94/2 (12.2) (Charith Asalanka 44*, Ahmed Shehzad 22, Minod Bhanuka 20) lost to Jaffna Kings 95/3 (8.4) (Avishka Fernando 23, Thisara Perera 29*) by seven wickets. (D/L method).

The class and guile of Player of the Match Shoaib Malik guided Jaffna Kings home