GG VS JK MATCH 17

Right then, that is all we have from this game. The second game of this Super Sunday will start at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) and we have Kandy Falcons going up against Dambulla Aura in that game. It is a big game for Dambulla Aura, So, just switch tabs and enjoy the coverage of that game. Cheers!

Thisara Perera, the skipper of Jaffna Kings says that he is happy to seal a spot in top 2 and tells that this venue is better that others as their batting has done well at Colombo. Tells that they have more power hitters and they can do even better in the death overs.

Kusal Mendis, the skipper of Galle Gladiators says that they don’t feel the pressure but they need to win their next game. Mentions that if they do the basic right they can win the game. Feels that they give away 15-20 runs extra with the ball and they would like to do better in the next game.

Afif Hossain is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH. He says that he was playing on this surface after a long time. Tells that he was thinking to take time in the middle and teammates helped him a lot. Mentions that pitch was quite good to bat on and adds that on the ball he got out was timed well but he found the fielder. Hopes to do well in the coming games.

Time for the Presentation.

Earlier, in the game, Jaffna Kings got to a par score courtesy of a fifty by Afif Hossain and important cameos by some middle order batters. Wahab Riaz after some disappointing games, stepped up with the ball for Galle Gladiators and picked three wickets while Nuwan Thushara was again among the wickets with two wickets. However, the score of 170 turned out to be enough for Kings in the end as they have notched up a win by 16 runs.

Jaffna Kings bowlers, on the other hand, were able to find timely breakthroughs throughout the chase and credit should also be given to Thisara Perera for the way he rotated his bowlers. Binura Fernando provided early inroads as he picked two wickets in the second over and then Maheesh Theekshana made the Powerplay even more fruitful by picking up a big wicket of Asad Shafiq. Vijayakanth Viyaskanth the young leg-spinner too impressed again and got two timely wickets when the partnerships were building up. The death bowling too was brilliant and overall it was a complete bowling effort from Jaffna Kings.

Galle Gladiators will be disappointed with this batting effort. They kept losing wickets at regular intervals thoughout the chase even though their skipper held one end up and that has cost them the game in the end. Three wickets fell in the Powerplay but Mendis stitched some productive partnerships with Nuwanidu Fernando, Iftikhar Ahmed and Imad Wasim. However, they lost all these three batters at the wrong moment and that build more pressure on Mendis. The wicket of Wasim made things very difficult for Galle Gladiators as Wahab Riaz struggled to rotate the strike and Mendis was stranded at one end which took things away from Galle in the end.

A comfortable win for Jaffna Kings in the end and with this win, they have confirmed their spot in the top 2 of the points table. However, a loss for Galle Gladiators now means that Dambulla Aura are still in with a chance to qualify here and Galle Gladiators have their task cut out in their next game now.

That's a single to end the game! A fuller delivery on middle. Nuwan Thushara backs away and pushes it to covers for a single. Jaffna Kings win by 16 runs!

Shortish delivery and outside off. Lakshan Sandakan cuts it to deep cover for a single.

A full toss on middle. Nuwan Thushara makes room and drives it to sweeper cover for a single.

A clever slower short delivery on middle. Nuwan Thushara lets it go.

OUT! KNOCKED HIM OVER! Nails a yorker this time, it is too good for Nuwan Pradeep as he tries to power it down the ground. He misses and the ball rattles the stumps. Binura Fernando has been absolutely fantastic in this whole tournament. Nuwan Thushara is the last man in.

A slower short delivery on off. Nuwan Pradeep tries to pull it but misses.

OUT! CAUGHT! That should be the final nail in the coffin! Fuller bangs it short and on off. Mendis pulls it aerially but ends up hitting it straight to Malik at deep mid-wicket. Easy catch for him and Mendis walks back after a fighting knock here. 20 needed now from 6 balls!

FIVE WIDES! This is a poor delivery! A full delivery and down the leg side. Mendis tries to whip it away but misses. Keeper fails to collect it as well and the ball runs away towards the fence.