07/12Result
3rd Match, Lanka Premier League at Hambantota, Dec 7 2022
Jaffna won by 9 wkts (26b rem)
Player of the Match
Sadeera Samarawickrama
Sadeera SamarawickramaJaffna Kings
07/12Result
3rd Match, Lanka Premier League at Hambantota, Dec 7 2022
Jaffna won by 9 wkts (26b rem)
Player of the Match
Sadeera Samarawickrama
Sadeera SamarawickramaJaffna Kings

6:22pm Well, that will be a wrap for this game. LPL action, though, does not stop. In an hour's time, the Galle Gladiators will take on the Kandy Falcons. For now, this is me (Shashwat) on behalf of Sudeep and Ranjith, signing off. Goodbye and take care!

Time for the post-match presentation!

Thisara Perera, Jaffna Kings captain: I have to mention our bowlers. They are doing really good job for us on these kinds of surfaces. (On Wellalage) They have so many left-handers so I did not need to give him the ball. Bhanuka played the left-armers really well, hence I did not bowl him (Wellalage).

Dasun Shanaka, Dambulla Aura captain: (Where did it go wrong) It is disappointing. The batting part, we did not do our jobs. We did not give ourselves a chance on that wicket. We threw our wickets away at regular intervals and it cost us the game. They bowled really well, plus we did not bat well in the middle phase. That is where we lost the game.

Sadeera Samarawickrama, Player of the Match: (About the innings) I would like to thank god first. Really happy that I delivered on the big stage. I was waiting for this opportunity and I was working hard. I had nothing to lose, so I had my plans. I backed myself and stuck to my basics. Really happy about the performance today.

6:10pm That was a convincing victory for the Kings in the end. They were put under some early pressure in their bowling innings, with Cox teeing off in the powerplay. Once Viyaskanth got the better of him, though, they controlled the match. Dambulla tried to stitch together partnerships but kept losing wickets, eventually finishing with a score that was well under par.

In the second innings, the pitch did play a little better, although credit must also be given to Avishka, who has not played a lot of cricket lately, and Samarawickrama, who was included as a replacement for Gurbaz. The pair bossed proceedings in the powerplay, and then continued that momentum in the middle overs. If yesterday's win was about them just getting past the finish line, today's victory was as comfortable as it could get. Ominous signs for the rest of the chasing pack, you'd assume!

15.4
4
Noor Ahmad to Randika, FOUR, and he seals the deal with a boundary! Fired down the leg side, and that is just too easy for Randika. He gets inside the line of the ball and glances it through fine leg to hand the Kings their second successive win!

Randika is the new batter at the crease

15.3
W
Noor Ahmad to Fernando, OUT, googly on a length outside off stump. Avishka has a swing at it but misses the ball completely. The keeper whips off the bails, and we go upstairs to check for the stumping! Oh, hang on! This is a lot closer than it first felt. Avishka has over-balanced a touch and the third umpire thinks that Cox has whipped off the bails just in time. Some part of the back foot seemed to be behind the line but it does not matter now - Avishka is on his way!

WIA Fernando st †Cox b Noor Ahmad 51 (49b 4x4 1x6) SR: 104.08

15.2
1
Noor Ahmad to Samarawickrama, 1 run, full delivery on middle and leg stump. Samarawickrama lunges forward and turns it behind square on the leg side for one more run
15.1
1
Noor Ahmad to Fernando, 1 run, length delivery on middle and off stump. Avishka gets down on one knee and slogs it towards long on. The fielder flings out his right palm and saves the boundary

Six runs needed now. Surely the Kings will polish off this run-chase in this over? They will have to do it against Noor Ahmad

END OF OVER:
15 | 12 Runs | JK: 116/0 (6 runs required from 30 balls, RR: 7.73, RRR: 1.20)

  • Avishka Fernando50 (47b)
  • Sadeera Samarawickrama61 (43b)
  • Lahiru Kumara3-0-27-0
  • Noor Ahmad3-0-22-0
14.6
1
Kumara to Fernando, 1 run, oh dear! Low full toss just outside off stump. Avishka tips it towards short mid wicket and hares down for the single. He eventually makes it because the fielder misses his shy at the stumps
14.5
0
Kumara to Fernando, no run, back of a length delivery outside off stump. Avishka gets onto the back foot and prods the ball towards backward point. Still on 49!
14.4
1
Kumara to Samarawickrama, 1 run, another off-pace delivery on a back of a length on middle and off stump. Samarawickrama opens up his stance and heaves it towards deep square leg for one
14.3
2
Kumara to Samarawickrama, 2 runs, slower delivery dug into the track on leg stump. Samarawickrama has an ugly hack at it and gets a top edge that bobbles down to fine leg
14.2
6
Kumara to Samarawickrama, SIX, shot! In the slot on middle and leg stump, and Samarawickrama gives it everything he has! He backs away and smears it over long on for six
14.2
1w
Kumara to Samarawickrama, 1 wide, dug into the track and that sails well over the batter's head. Samarawickrama ducks under it and that has rightly been called a wide by the umpire
14.1
1
Kumara to Fernando, 1 run, back of a length delivery on leg stump. Avishka gets onto the back foot and flicks the ball towards deep backward square leg for a single

18 runs needed now, and with 10 wickets in hand. Can the Kings finish it off in the next two overs?

END OF OVER:
14 | 6 Runs | JK: 104/0 (18 runs required from 36 balls, RR: 7.42, RRR: 3.00)

  • Avishka Fernando48 (44b)
  • Sadeera Samarawickrama52 (40b)
  • Noor Ahmad3-0-22-0
  • Lahiru Kumara2-0-15-0
13.6
3
Noor Ahmad to Fernando, 3 runs, safe! Full delivery on middle and off stump. Avishka looks to go downtown but miscues his shot terribly. The ball goes miles up into the air but when it lands, it lands in between long off and long on. Superb effort by the fielder at long off, even though it went in vain
13.5
1b
Noor Ahmad to Samarawickrama, 1 bye, full delivery just outside off stump. Samarawickrama swings for the hills and makes no contact. The keeper, however, fumbles and allows a bye
13.4
1
Noor Ahmad to Fernando, 1 run, back of a length delivery outside off stump. Avishka waits in his crease and flat-bats it towards long off for a single
13.3
1
Noor Ahmad to Samarawickrama, 1 run, short and wide outside off stump. Samarawickrama goes back and dabs it towards deep point for a single
13.2
0
Noor Ahmad to Samarawickrama, no run, another delivery that does not give Samarawickrama enough room. He gets into position and plays it towards mid wicket
13.1
0
Noor Ahmad to Samarawickrama, no run, length delivery on middle and leg stump. Samarawickrama hangs back and pokes it down the ground

Oh, hello. Replays indicate that the second ball of the previous over grazed Samarawickrama's bat before going through to the keeper. There was not much excitement though

END OF OVER:
13 | 4 Runs | JK: 98/0 (24 runs required from 42 balls, RR: 7.53, RRR: 3.42)

  • Sadeera Samarawickrama51 (36b)
  • Avishka Fernando44 (42b)
  • Lahiru Kumara2-0-15-0
  • Chaturanga de Silva4-0-23-0
12.6
1
Kumara to Samarawickrama, 1 run, full delivery on middle and leg stump. Samarawickrama presses forward and knocks it down the ground for another single
12.5
1
Kumara to Fernando, 1 run, length delivery outside off stump. Avishka throws the kitchen sink at it and skews it off the outside edge towards third man for a single
12.4
1
Kumara to Samarawickrama, 1 run, back of a length delivery on leg stump. Samarawickrama gets into a bit of a tangle but manages to work it behind square on the leg side for a single. Brings up his fifty too, off 35 balls!
12.3
0
Kumara to Samarawickrama, no run, banged into the track just outside off stump. Samarawickrama looks for the ramp but is again late on the stroke. Some serious pace and carry from Kumara!
12.2
0
Kumara to Samarawickrama, no run, short delivery outside off stump that hurries through. Samarawickrama has a waft at it but is late on the stroke as the ball beats the bat
12.1
1
Kumara to Fernando, 1 run, back of a length delivery on leg stump. Avishka gets up on his toes and tucks the ball off his hips towards deep mid wicket for a single

Kumara returns to the attack