LPL-6 enters business end of Play-offs

• Qualifier 1 and Eliminator today

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Having played the league stage of 20 matches at three venues across Sri Lanka, the Lanka Premier League (LPL) sixth edition reaches its business end with the Play-offs commencing at the R Premadasa Cricket Stadium from today.

The finalists of the last edition of LPL held in 2024 - Jaffna Kings will kick off the Playoffs when they meet Galle Gallants in the day’s double header Qualifier 1 at 3 pm. It will be followed by the Eliminator at 7.30 pm when Colombo Kaps meet Kandy Royals.

The advantage of finishing amongst the top two is that the team which loses still stays in the competition to play in Qualifier 2. By finishing on top of the standings with 11 points from 8 games Jaffna Kings who began the tournament with a defeat at the hands of Galle Gallants have proved to be the most consistent side in the latter half.  

It has been different players who have contributed in the batting to Jaffna Kings’ cause which makes them a dangerous side to contend with. Ibrahim Zadran’s 95 against Colombo Kaps stands out as their highest individual performance while they have in openers Kamil Mishara and Avishka Fernando a duo who could capitalize in the power play with young Chamindu Wickramasinghe to provide the finishing touches at the death. Their bowling has relied on Lizaad Williams (14 wickets) and Dunith Wellalage (13) the two leading wicket-takers in the competition, while Dilshan Madushanka, Shakib Al Hasan, Traveen Mathew and Mohamed Shiraz have played their part at crucial junctures. When the team is doing well the captain’s contribution is hardly spoken of. In this aspect Bhanuka Rajapaksa has not been at his best except for one match-winning knock of 61* against Dambulla Sixers in a difficult chase.

It has been the opposite with Galle Gallants with their skipper Dasun Shanaka leading the side from the front with both bat and ball. The LPL has afforded former Sri Lanka white ball captain Charith Asalanka the opportunity to showcase his batting in the shortest format and regain his place in the national team. He enters the Play-offs in excellent form with back to back half-centuries (70* against Kandy Royals and 58 against Colombo) and as the third highest run getter with 297 runs and a strike rate of 153.88. Sahan Arachchige and Chamika Karunaratne, another Sri Lankan player trying to catch the selectors’ eyes for a recall to the national side have shored up the middle order. The bowling is in the reliable hands of Eshan Malinga, Akif Javed, Mohammad Nawaz, Tharindu Ratnayake and Sachindu Colombage providing different varieties and options to Shanaka.

The second game of the evening provides the two contestants with no room for error. It’s more of a sudden death contest for the loser will be knocked out of the competition.

Colombo Kaps despite losing their captain Kusal Mendis to injury as the top end of the league matches remained in contention right throughout to finish with four wins and third place in the final standings. Kamindu Mendis who took over the leadership has responded well to his new responsibilities the highlight of his contributions being a 39-ball 88 against Dambulla Sixers. In Janith Liyanage, Rubin Hermann, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Ben McDermott they have a strong batting line up with Jimmy Neesham contributing with both bat and ball.

Having spent most of their time at the bottom of the standings Kandy Royals endured the pressure to enter the final stage of the LPL. A lot will be expected from Lahiru Udara, the tournament’s leading run scorer with 384 runs and a strike rate of 162.71. He also entered the record books by compiling the highest individual score in LPL history – 132* off 63 balls powering Kandy Royals in a successful 209-run chase against Galle Gallants. The experience of former Sri Lanka captain Angelo Mathews at the helm has helped Kandy Royals get out of tough situations, but yet for all their place in the Play-offs was not confirmed until the final league match between Jaffna Kings and Dambulla Sixers. Apart from Udara Kandy Royals have been dependent on Wanindu Hasaranga, Moeen Ali, Vijay Shankar and Nuwan Thushara who have made significant contributions at different stages.

Dambulla Sixers could consider themselves extremely unlucky when their final league match which was crucial to their chances of qualifying for the Play-offs was abandoned due to rain after they had posted a challenging total of 203 against Jaffna Kings.

So, the stage is set for the final round of matches with Jaffna, the most successful team in the tournament with four title wins aiming for a fifth, Kandy, the only other team to lay hands on the LPL trophy looking for their second, Galle Gallants three times runner-up looking to break the jinx and Colombo searching for their first win having lost to Jaffna in the 2022 edition.