Jaffna Kings are looking at three straight LPL titles after they beat Kandy Falcons in the first qualifier on DL method yesterday at RPS. Set a target of 144 to win, Thisara Perera’s side had raced to 98 for three in 11 overs when rain came down. Play couldn’t resume and the defending champions were declared winners by 24 runs.
The result was a massive blow for Kandy Falcons, who had topped the group stages with 14 points having won seven of their eight games. However, all hopes are not lost for Wanidu Hasarnaga’s side as they will play the second qualifier tomorrow against the winner’s of yesterday’s eliminator between Colombo Stars and Galle Gladiators.
Leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth was the hero for Jaffna as he claimed three wickets and was named Man of the Match.
Kandy Falcons never got going after Jaffna born Viyaskanth claimed the wickets of Pathum Nissanka, Kamindu Mendis and Ashen Bandara and at the end of the innings Kandy looked to be short by 20 runs on a belter of a pitch.
Nissanka top scored with 35. Kandy held back their star striker Carlos Brathwaite until number eight maybe because they thought that he was suspect against spin bowling.
It was a very good effort by Jaffna bowlers as Maheesh Theekshana chipped in with two wickets.
With rain around the corner, Jaffna batters made their intentions clear scoring 18 runs off Isuru Udana’s first over. They kept losing wickets but there was no stopping the batters from going for their shots and in the end Jaffna won comfortably.
Hasaranga conceded only eight runs from his two overs, but they needed wickets from their star performer which he could not deliver. Had the game gone the full distance it could have been a different story as Hasaranga has proved it time and again.
