KF VS JK QUALIFIER 1

Right then, that is all we have from this rain-curtailed game! Jaffna Kings have made it to the final again and Thisara Perera has truly been an inspirational skipper for Jaffna over the years. We have another big game coming up now as Colombo Stars go up against Galle Gladiators in the Eliminator. That game was scheduled to start on 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT) but the start will be delayed now due to rain. So, switch tabs and enjoy the coverage of that game. Cheers!

Thisara Perera, the skipper of Jaffna Kings says that they just need to play their best cricket to succeed as he said in his past interviews. Adds that they have good promising cricketers in their team and if they play well they are better than other teams. Ends by saying that all of their players are fit and they will do their best in the finals.

Wanindu Hasaranga, the skipper of Kandy Falcons says that they were short by 20-30 runs while batting first and that cost them the game. Tells that Chamika Karunaratne is fit and he will play the next game and they most probably will go to the next game with the same side. Adds that they have one more chance and they will be looking to come back stronger.

Vijayakanth Viyaskanth is the Player of the Match for this three wickets. He says that he just bowls wicket to wicket and he was well supported by Thisara Perera and coaches. Ends by saying that he picks up wickets whenever he bowls on the stumps so he goes with it.

Time for the Presentation.

In the first half, Jaffna Kings pulled back things nicely from the 10th over after Nissanka and Kamindu Mendis had laid a good foundation for a big score for Kandy Falcons. Jaffna Kings have genuine wicket-takers in their line-up and their skills were on full display in this game as young leg-spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth broke the backbone of Kandy’s batting line-up with three wickets. Maheesh Theekshana also got two wickets and they ended up restricting Kandy to a below-par score of 143 which was never going to be enough against Jaffna Kings as they came out all guns blazing in the Powerplay. Overall, the Jaffna Kings have completely outclassed Kandy Falcons in this game.

We got only 11 overs of cricket in the run-chase but we had certainly one of the strangest and entertaining Powerplay. 19 extras were handed as a gift to Jaffna kings as Kandy Falcons bowlers failed to control the swing that was on offer. Kings batters, on the other hand, also came out with an aggressive mindset and played shots all around the ground. However, they lost their wickets too in the process but the Kings ended up scoring 71 runs in the Powerplay and that made all the difference in the end. Credit should also be given to the pair of Sadeera Samarawickrama and Dunith Wellalage, two young Lankan batters who batted sensibly after the Powerplay and ensured that their team do not lose any further wickets till the time rain came back to put the final brakes on the proceedings of this game.

So, it's official! Jaffna Kings have won this game by 24 runs courtesy of a DLS method. They went hard in the Powerplay even though they lost wickets on the way and that has helped them be well ahead of the DLS par score in the end. The defending champions have made it to the summit clash for the third time in a row now and will get a much-deserved rest ahead of the final. Kandy Falcons, on the other hand, would be disappointed with this result, they have been the best side this season so far and have beaten the Kings two times in the league stage but could not match the intensity of the Kings in this game. They still have one more chance to redeem themselves and we can expect them to come back stronger in the next game.

Update - 6.54 pm IST (1.24 pm GMT) - It seems that we won't have anymore cricket in this game now. The Eliminator is scheduled at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT), so we don't have much time here.

Slightly shorter and on middle, Wellalage pulls it to square leg for one.

Wide! A wayward bouncer and down leg, Dunith Wellalage leaves it alone.

Length and outside off, Sadeera Samarawickrama slaps it to point for one.

Wide! Bwols it shorter and down leg, Sadeera Samarawickrama duckes under it. Wided.

It has started to drizzle again! Also, Chamika Karunaratne is limping off the field and this is not good news for Kandy Falcons. Chamindu Wijesinghe comes onto bowl to complete the over.

Back of a length and on off, Dunith Wellalage pulls it to backward square leg for one.

Slightly shorter one, Dunith Wellalage looks to pull it but gets a bottom edge as the ball rolls towards mid-wicket. Another dot.

On a length with some extra bounce, Dunith Wellalage fends it to mid off.

Slightly shorter and outside off, Sadeera Samarawickrama cuts it to deep backward point for one.