Rovman Powell (left) and Avishka Fernando set alight the LPL with their power hitting

Last year’s finalists Galle Gladiators and Jaffna Kings have taken a head start in the ongoing second edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) with both teams having identical records of two wins, one loss from three matches and four points apiece – only net run rate separates them.

Following closely on their heels are the Dambulla Giants, with a similar record but with a negative net run rate which they will have to improve over their next few games if they are to finish within the first four to qualify for the Eliminator knockout round.

Kandy Warriors, who are the only team without a win after three outings, will be desperate to make it count when the matches resume after yesterday’s rest day. They certainly will not want to finish at the bottom of the standings like they did last year.

The first seven games of the 23-match tournament have produced some remarkable cricket and performances, keeping with the T20 format. Defending champions Jaffna, after faltering in their first match, have picked up the pieces and look a formidable unit. Not far behind are Dambulla, who are the only team to cross the 190-run mark twice from their three matches. They have been able to achieve that due to the excellent opening starts provided by Phil Salt and Niroshan Dickwella. Englishman Salt has been the most consistent batsman in the tournament with two match winning fifties. The only occasion he failed, Dambulla lost to Jaffna.

The intervention of rain, and subsequently truncated match, produced the most belligerent match of the tournament so far, on Wednesday, when the Kings and Warriors produced a six-hitting with 27 sixes struck in a match reduced to 14 overs a side. And what an entertaining contest it turned out to be, with both teams slugging it out in the middle and ending up scoring 347 runs at an average run rate of 12.39 runs an over.

Rovman Powell of Kandy Warriors and Avishka Fernando of Jaffna Kings led the way in six hitters list with 11 and 10 apiece.

In what many have remarked as a spin dominated tournament, especially with it being played on subcontinent pitches, fast bowlers nevertheless occupy three of the top five spots amongst the leading wicket-takers. Jayden Seales (Jaffna Kings) and Nuwan Pradeep (Dambulla Giants) are the front-runners with seven wickets each, followed by Samit Patel (Galle Gladiators) with six, and Dushmantha Chameera (Colombo Stars) and Wanindu Hasaranga (Jaffna Kings) with five apiece.

The matches resume today with a double-header – Dambulla Giants v Galle Gladiators at 3 p.m., and Jaffna Kings v Colombo Stars at 7:30 p.m – at the R. Premadasa stadium in Colombo. 

(ST)

Bopara and Moores to replace two WI players for Kandy Warriors