Player of the Match
Player of the Match

That's it from us today, and for the league stage as well. Enjoy the day off tomorrow. Come back Sunday for the semifinals of the 2020 Lanka Premier League! I'm Peter Della Penna, take care!

Qais Ahmad is the Man of the Match for his half-century and 2 wickets: "During practice I told the coach that I'm winning you matches with the ball but I can win you matches with the bat too. The coach and captain had trust in me and believed in me and sent me out. You cannot predict in cricket. You win some and lose some. Today was our day."

Kings captain Angelo Mathews: "It was a fantastic effort. I was surprised to see how we played in the last 8 overs. Dambulla started brilliantly and set us a high target. It was chaseable and I thought we could have held them to 180-190. Credit should go to the curator for producing some fantastic wickets. The confidence we can take forward to the semis, but it's just another day and you have to be on your A-game facing Galle because they're a very dangerous side. Laurie seems pretty bad. The physio will assess him and we only have a day. I had a tight hamstring and didn't want to risk it batting. Laurie is batting well and started the batting brilliantly. Thikshila, Priyanajan and Qais finished it fantastically. We have to turn up once again in a few days time and play with a lot of freedom like we did today."

Dasun Shanaka, Dambulla captain "We started really well batting wise. Bowling we bowled good up front but in the death overs we missed the right lengths and could have done better. 200+ is always good in this wicket."

11.30 pm No Russell? No problem for the Kings. Qais leads Colombo to the top spot on the LPL table with this splendid knock to pick up the slack after Laurie Evans had to retire hurt. Kings were sloppy in the field allowing Dambulla to get past 200, but in the end they chase it down without sweating too much. Very very poor death bowling by Dambulla, something they'll need to rectify in the semi-finals.

So Colombo finishes first on the table in the league stage and will face Galle Gladiators in the semis while Dambulla will be paired against Jaffna Stallions in the other semi to be played as a doubleheader on Sunday.

18.5
6
Anwar Ali to Qais Ahmad, SIX, length ball again, slaughters this high and deep over midwicket for the fourth six of the over by the Afghan and he clinches the match with seven balls to spare! 22-ball unbeaten 50 to boot.

Qais has got a wide grin on his face waiting for the bowler to run in.

18.4
0
Anwar Ali to Qais Ahmad, no run, yorker, finally Anwar gets his length correct and Qais jams it out back to the bowler.

As sensational as this has been from Qais, it's been a dreadful over from Anwar, hasn't hit his length properly on a single delivery. Hat-trick of sixes is the result.

18.3
6
Anwar Ali to Qais Ahmad, SIX, another length ball on fifth stump, Qais demolishes this once again over wide long-on.

It'd be unfair to call this tailend slogging. Qais looks like a proper batsman in this knock.

18.2
6
Anwar Ali to Qais Ahmad, SIX, length ball on sixth stump, Qais slaughters this on the up and sends it 20 yards over cow corner.
18.1
6
Anwar Ali to Qais Ahmad, SIX, full on sixth stump, not full enough to be yorker length and Qais carves this high over long-off, landing beyond the LCD ad boards.

END OF OVER:
18 | 12 Runs | CLS: 181/4 (23 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 10.05, RRR: 11.50)

  • Qais Ahmad26 (17b)
  • Ashan Priyanjan47 (28b)
  • Lahiru Kumara3-0-21-0
  • Anwar Ali3-0-32-1
17.6
1
Kumara to Qais Ahmad, 1 run, short on the stumps, pulled behind square but can't beat the man on the rope.

Qais is giving Rashid and Nabi a run for their money in the batting department of Afghan T20 franchise spin merchants.

17.5
6
Kumara to Qais Ahmad, SIX, length ball on fifth stump, slogged high and deep over long-on, 15 yards beyond the rope.
17.4
1
Kumara to Priyanjan, 1 run, yorker on fifth stump, jammed out again to long-on.
17.3
1
Kumara to Qais Ahmad, 1 run, yorker on off, dug out to cover sweeper.
17.3
1w
Kumara to Qais Ahmad, 1 wide, bouncer clears the batsman comfortably tailing down leg. Could've been wided on height or line. Bonus ball either way.
17.2
1
Kumara to Priyanjan, 1 run, yorker on fifth stump at 144 kph, jammed out to midwicket.
17.1
1
Kumara to Qais Ahmad, 1 run, full on the stumps, flicked out through the leg side for one.

Lahiru Kumara back to bring the heat.

END OF OVER:
17 | 11 Runs | CLS: 169/4 (35 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 9.94, RRR: 11.66)

  • Ashan Priyanjan45 (26b)
  • Qais Ahmad17 (13b)
  • Anwar Ali3-0-32-1
  • Malinda Pushpakumara3-0-32-1
16.6
6
Anwar Ali to Priyanjan, SIX, extraordinary shot! Full on sixth stump, whips this with pure wristwork to send it high over deep backward square.
16.5
1
Anwar Ali to Qais Ahmad, 1 run, length ball on fourth stump, flat-batted to long-on.
16.4
0
Anwar Ali to Qais Ahmad, no run, bouncer over the stumps, beaten on the pull.
16.4
1w
Anwar Ali to Qais Ahmad, 1 wide, short and down leg, misses a flick. Bonus ball coming up.
16.3
1
Anwar Ali to Priyanjan, 1 run, attempted yorker on fourth stump, flicked out to deep midwicket.

Kings 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st20LJ EvansLD Chandimal
2nd52LJ EvansDJ Bell-Drummond
2nd1DJ Bell-DrummondLU Igalagamage
3rd6SMA PriyanjanDJ Bell-Drummond
4th49SMA PriyanjanST de Silva
5th77SMA PriyanjanQais Ahmad