Kusal’s century overshadowed by Jaffna’s last-ball win
Kusal Janith Perera celebrating his maiden T – 20 hundred/Avishka Fernando the Man of the Match who scored 80 making a shot (Pix courtesy SLC)Kusal Janith Perera celebrating his maiden T – 20 hundred/Avishka Fernando the Man of the Match who scored 80 making a shot (Pix courtesy SLC)
Skipper Charith Asalanka (50) and Avishka Fernando (80) added a remarkable 134-run fourth-wicket stand as Jaffna Kings recorded a 4-wicket win over Dambulla Sixes in their LPL cricket fixture at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday. Chasing a target of 192 runs, Jaffna Kings were 36 for 3 wickets after 5.2 overs.
Asalanka and Fernando built up the innings to secure a dramatic last-ball victory. Asalanka scored 50 off 36 balls with 4 fours and 4 sixes, while Fernando smashed 80 off 34 balls with 7 fours and 6 sixes. Despite Dambulla opener Kusal Janith Perera’s century, Jaffna’s victory stood out. Avishka was named Man of the Match for his impressive 80-run knock.
Earlier, Dambulla Sixes opener Kusal Janith Perera returned to form, scoring his maiden T20 hundred, which paved the way to a challenging total of 191 for 2 wickets in 20 overs. The 33-year-old left-hander played a sparkling, unbeaten knock of 102 in 52 balls with 10 fours and 5 sixes, recording the quickest LPL century in just 50 balls. Perera became the fifth LPL centurion, following Laurie Evans, Babar Azam, Andre Fletcher, and Avishka Fernando in this series.
Kusal Janith Perera entertained the crowd with his usual aggressive innings, recovering strongly after being dismissed for a duck in the previous game against Kandy Falcons. He built up an attractive innings, putting on a superb 108-run second-wicket stand with Nuwanidu Fernando, who scored 40 in 35 balls with 3 fours and a six.
Perera further added an unbroken 65-run third-wicket stand with Mark Chapman, who scored 33 in 23 balls with 3 fours and a six. Jaffna Sixes used seven bowlers, but only off-spinner Dhananjaya de Silva was successful, taking both wickets and conceding 25 runs in his 4-over spell.
Chief scores
Dambulla Sixes 191 for 2 wickets in 20 overs Kusal Janith Perera 102*, Nuwanidu Fernando 40,Mark Chapman 33*, Dhananjaya de Silva 2/25
Jaffna Kings 197 for 6 wickets in 20 overs Pathum Nissanka 27, Avishka Fernando 80, Charith Asalanka 50 ,Fabian Allan 11*,Nuwan Thushara 2/34, Mustafizur Rahman 2/30 ,Mohammed Nabi 1/20