It was a magnificent qualifier game in the LPL 2024, where the Jaffna Kings secured their spot in the finals by just 1 run against the Kandy Falcons at RPICS.
Jaffna Kings had to open the batting after Kandy Falcons skipper Wanidu Hasaranga decided to bowl first after winning the toss.
Kusal Mendis and Pathum Nissanka gave them a good start by putting up 47 runs for the fisrt wicket before Pathum Nissanka departed for 18. Rilee Rossouw failed once again in batting and got out for 7. AvishaKa Fernando also continued his bad patch and only scored 11 runs off 10 balls.
Kusal Mendis held the other side while other batters could not provide him an opportunity to build a solid partnerships. But Afghanistan’s Azamatullah Omarzai held his nerves with Kusal to take kings to a solid position giving an opportunity to Kusal Mendis to reach his first century in the fifth LPL. He scored his century in 51 ball which is the fourth fastest in the tournament .
Omarzai made 26 runs and had a partnership of 44 runs (44 balls) for the sixth wicket with Mendis. However, Kusal Mendia made unbeaten 105 to take the Jaffna’s final score to 187/7.
Chathuranga de Silva and Ramesh Mendis took two wickets each for Kandy Falcons.
While chasing the target, Dinesh Chandimal and Andre Fletcher scored 48 runs for the first wicket, and Kamindu Mendis added 32 runs to the Kandy Falcons’ innings.
Fabian Allen (4) and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (3) delivered impactful spells, taking important wickets and changing the game in favor of the Jaffna Kings.
However, Ramesh Mendis’s quickfire innings shocked everyone and gave some hope to the Kandy Falcons.
In the final 12 balls, the Kandy Falcons needed 38 runs. Ramesh Mendis and Pavan Rathnayake built an unbeaten 42-run partnership but unfortunately fell short by 1 run for the victory.
Eventually, the Jaffna Kings won the match and will face off against the Galle Marvels in the finals.
#LPL2024 #JaffnavKandy
Be the first to comment