LPL
Mustafiz shine yet Dambulla face defeat against Jaffna in LPL
|| CF DESK ||
Jaffna Kings defeated Dambulla Sixers by four wickets in the 4th match of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, Kandy.
Jaffna chased down the target of 192 runs after a last-over thriller with the help of Avishka Fernando top-scoring 80 and Asalanka's half-century.
Jaffna had a shaky start, scoring 30 runs in 3.4 overs. However, Mustafiz scalped Kusal Mendis on the slip and got out for just 6 runs. Pathum scored 27 runs but soon departed, followed by Rilee Rossouw who also got out for 6, putting JFK in trouble.
Despite this, Asalanka and Avishka's partnership of 136 runs for the fourth wicket helped Jaffna Kings secure a thrilling victory. Asalanka scored 50 and Avishka made 80, leading their team to a tense battle till the last over.
Mustafizur Rahman picked up two crucial wickets but could not help the team to clinch the match.
Earlier, Dambulla batted first after losing the toss to Jaffna Kings and scored 191 runs for the loss of 2 wickets in 20 overs.
Kusal Perera and Nuwanidu Fernando formed a partnership of 108 runs for the second wicket before Fernando was dismissed for 40 runs by Dhananjaya De Silva.
Kusal then scored the first century of this year's LPL, reaching 102 runs in 52 balls with 10 fours and 5 sixes. Mark Chapman also contributed with a quick 33 runs off 23 balls.