The commentary is not available for this match. Please check the scorecard for latest updates.
That's all from us then! We hope you enjoyed our coverage of this LPL game between the Jaffna Kings and the Dambulla Aura. This is Soumarya Dutta, signing off on behalf of Srivathsa and Soorya. See you soon!
Thisara Perera (Jaffna Kings Captain): I have to give credit to the batters and bowlers today. On this kind of surface they did a very good surface for me. No big secret, we're playing to our strengths. I always back my players. The openers gave a good start and there was nothing much to do for the middle-order. Every match we're giving chances to the players. We always try to give opportunity to the Sri Lankan players. We'll definitely give more players chances in the next few matches.
Dasun Shanaka (Dambulla Aura Captain): We took the right decision (to bowl first) but it was a really poor display of bowling. We were poor with our lines and lengths, plus they batted really well. Especially Gurbaz and Avishka. Until we don't play good cricket we're going to lose. Everyone should realize that. We need to come better in the upcoming games and make sure we make the Eliminators.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz is the Player of the Match. Here's what he has to say: I really enjoyed playing here. (Any target in mind while he bats?) I always try to be positive. I practice in the nets before the nets and talk to my coaches. I just try to play positive.
Dambulla Aura 189/8 in 20 overs Dasun Shanaka 44(23) | Binura Fernando 4/22 Bhanuka Rajapaksaa 38(31) | Suminda Lakshan 2/50
The Jaffna Kings are back to winning ways and they're back in some style! They dominated their opponents from the very first over of the innings and have secured a famous win here. In the end, they restricted the Dambulla Aura to only 189/8 in 20 overs. The Dambulla batters tried hard to make a match out of this one, but 240 was a massive mountain for them to climb. The loss of wickets at regular intervals didn't help their cause either. The likes of Shevon Daniel, Bhanuka Rajapaksha and Dasun Shanaka got starts but none of them could go on to a play a decisive knock which could have guided them home. Skipper Shanaka was the top scorer with a well made 44.
For the Kings, it was the tall left armer Binura Fernando, who was the star with the ball. He picked up four wickets and rattled the Dambulla batting lineup. He was given good support by Maheesh Theekshana, who also bowled a really economical spell and kept things really tight. The other bowlers too did their bit and chipped in with key wickets. Suminda Lakshan was expensive but he picked up two crucial wickets.
Overall, this has been an emphatic win for the Kings and they're on the top of the table once again. For Dambulla Aura, things have just gotten tougher as they've lost three on the trot including today. They will have to sit down and reflect on this performance and regroup as quickly as they can.
20
overs
189/8score
0
1
W
1
0
1
runs
Ravindu Suharshana Fernando*
19(13)
Pramod Madushan
1(1)
Binura Fernando
4/22
19.6 Binura Fernando to Dushan Hemantha, THAT IS THAT! Pitched up at the stumps, Hemantha stands tall and swings down to long on for a lone run and that brings the curtains down on this rather one-sided contest. Jaffna Kings return to winning ways with a comprehensive 51-run victory!
19.5 Binura Fernando to Dushan Hemantha, WELL WELL! Slower short of a length delivery outside the off stump and Hemantha has a nice little anti-clockwise pirouette as he looks to heave it to Mars. Ends up splicing it towards mid-off instead as it goes awfully wrong!
19.4 Binura Fernando to Pramod Madushan, OOH! Very full at the stumps. Madushan clears his front leg and shovels it out to deep mid-wicket who picks it up on the bounce