Match 19, Colombo, December 19, 2022, 03:00 PM
Colombo Stars
128/9(20.0ov)
Jaffna Kings
131/2(15.5ov)
Jaffna Kings beat Colombo Stars by 8 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Rahmanullah Gurbaz
Commentry
Right then, that is all we have from this game. Next up, we have the last game of the league stage and it will be a clash between Galle Gladiators and Dambulla Aura. That game will start at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) and it will help us nail down the final spot for the playoffs. So, do join us for the same. Till then, it’s goodbye and cheers!
Thisara Perera, the captain of Jaffna Kings says that they have already used 20 players in the league stages but know which XI to go with. Adds that it is also a bit tough to bench players who have done well. Adds that they try to play normally and take it one match at a time.
Niroshan Dickwella, the skipper of Colombo Stars says that when they have batted first, they have not clicked as a unit and they are doing good while chasing. Mentions that they need to step up as a batting group and says that while batting first, they have not been able to realise what is a good score. Feels that 150 would have been a challenging score on this pitch. Informs that their squad is injury free and again mentions that they need to click as a batting group and if they do that, they will do well in the playoffs.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (69 off 40 balls) is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH. He starts by joking that he was in a hurry due to lack of sleep. Adds that the wicket was not easy and he just took a bit of time before going hard at it. Mentions that a couple of years ago he wasn't consistent enough but tries to work hard and do well for whichever team he plays for.
Time for the Presentation...
Colombo Stars were without their regular skipper Angelo Mathews in this game and he would not be too pleased with how his team went about its business in this game. They were put under the pump right from the start and though they got near 130 in the end with some decent contributions from Dominic Drakes and Nishan Madushka but it was always going to be a tough task against a strong Jaffna Kings batting line-up. They needed early wickets with the ball but that was not the case. Instead, they were just blown away by the opening stand of 105 and have crumbled to a big defeat here.
Jaffna did most of the things right with the ball as they picked four wickets in the Powerplay and with persistent good bowling throughout the innings, they restricted Stars to a below-par total. Every bowler that was introduced got into the wickets column and then with the bat Gurbaz just came out all guns blazing as he usually does and Kings raced to 65/0 at the end of the Powerplay. It was a mere formality after that and though Gurbaz departed after a fantastic knock of 69 off 40 balls, Kings managed to reach the target with 25 balls to spare as Avishka Fernando stayed unbeaten on 40.
A dominating win for Jaffna Kings and once again they have shown why they are one of the best teams in this tournament. A complete performance and they would be upbeat about their chances in Qualifier 1 now. Colombo Stars, on the other hand, are going to play the Eliminator but they need to be far better than this if they want to go further ahead in the competition.
In over# 16
4
0
0
2
1
Dominic Drakes 30/1(2.5)
15.5
4
FOUR! That's it, Sadeera Samarawickrama has hit the winning runs and seals a comfortable victory for his side. This is short again from Drakes and over middle, it sits up nicely for the batter. Samarawickrama rocks back and muscles the pull shot in front of square for a boundary. Jaffna Kings win by 8 wickets!
15.4
.
Extra bounce! Bowled on a hard length and angled in from around off. Sadeera Samarawickrama looks to block but is taken aback by the additional bounce. He through manages to fend it away.
15.3
.
Beaten! Good length, in that channel around off and just holding its line. Sadeera Samarawickrama looks to stand tall and drive but is beaten past the outside edge.
15.2
2
Just out of reach! Dominic Drakes bangs it in short and at the body, Sadeera Samarawickrama tries to take it on but completely miscues it. The ball pops up and lands over the chasing man at mid-wicket. They get two.
15.1
1
Shorter and angling into the body, Avishka Fernando bends his back and ramps it down to third man for an easy single.
In over# 15
0
0
1
5wd
1
1
1
Ravi Bopara 16/0(2)
14.6
.
Slower one, on a shorter length and around off, Sadeera Samarawickrama looks to ease it through point but gets an inside edge that goes past the stumps.
14.5
.
Missed out! Fullish length, well outside off and there to be driven. Sadeera Samarawickrama goes for the square drive but the ball sneaks under his willow.
14.4
1
Fullish length around middle, flicked away in front of mid-wicket for a single.
14.4
5wd
FIVE WIDES! Wayward from Ravi Bopara and Jaffna Kings are now just one hit away from victory. Slower one, on a length and angling way down the leg side. The ball beats the keeper and trickles away into the fine leg fence.