END OF OVER:
20 | 6 Runs | GG: 178/9 (24 runs required, RR: 8.90)

  • Mohammad Amir6 (6b)
  • Nuwan Thushara5 (2b)
  • Suranga Lakmal3-0-23-1
  • Jayden Seales3-0-36-1

11.50pm And on that note, it's a wrap from us for a another season of the LPL. There was more rain than anyone would have liked, but it still provided drama aplenty with spinners dominating, and then when the action shifted to Hambantota, the batters finally had their day in the sun in more ways than one. And ultimately it was Jaffna that proved to be the team for all seasons. Thanks for joining our coverage, good night!

Jaffna captain Thisara Perera is understandably elated, and gives thanks to all the support staff and the fans. He does admit though that Gunathilaka's innings had him worried: "We were all worried, because Dhnushka batted really well, but we knew 200 was still a lot to chase. I think we can do even better next year in terms of performance."

Galle skipper Bhanuka Rajapaksa says he's happy with how the team performed throughout the tournament, even if they came up short at the final hurdle: "I'm very satisfied with the boys' efforts. Not too great to finish second yet again, hopefully we can go one better next year. I think we misfielded too many, and that affected the game," he added.

11.40pm So Avishka Fernando picks up the Player of the Match and Player of the Series, having turned up just when his team needed him. "I'm very happy that I was able to what I do to the best of my ability. I batted at number four but I had a couple of failures, so I'm quite happy to do well again at the top of the order," he said speaking post-match.

chathura dharma: "Again two brothers from Galle stands in the way of Galle Gladiators"

Saad: "Just tuning in after an hour, and not sure if someone has noted this. This Gladiators franchise is very similar to its counterparts Quetta Gladiators over at PSL. Quetta Gladiators were the first to qualify for the final in the first two PSL editions, but were beaten in the final. Galle franchise is headed for the same outcome."

11.05pm So it's another LPL in the bag for Jaffna and what a consummate performance it has been! Yes, when Gunathilaka (54 off 21) and Mendis (39 off 28) were going in the powerplay they would've had doubts, but they have game-changers in their ranks. And while Theekshana had an uncharacteristically poor game going for 51 in his four overs - much of that down to Gunathilaka - Wanindu came to the party and dismissed Gunathilaka and Dunk off back-to-back balls to swing the momentum.

Even then the Gladiators had the required rate within reach, but the Kings were outstanding in the field, effecting two runouts, one which was the final nail in the coffin - the wicket of Mendis. They also took every catch that came their way, including some extremely dicey ones.

Galle by contrast had a day to forget in the field, and that probably cost them around 20 runs in total - which in the end was the margin of defeat. The Kings batters needed little invitation though, who were on it from the get go. Avishka followed his century last game with another fifty, while TKC also notched a half ton. And then cameos from Gurbaz, Malik and Thisara pushed the Kings beyond that 200-mark. That was always going to be a tough ask, and so it proved in the end.

19.6
0
Lakmal to Mohammad Amir, no run, Full and swings hard, straight to extra cover. And Jaffna are back-to-back champions! The players rush the field, you can hear the shouts of jubilation through the stump mics. Well deserved winners.
19.5
0
Lakmal to Mohammad Amir, no run, Yorker and driven back to the bowler.
19.4
4
Lakmal to Mohammad Amir, FOUR, Low full toss and driven exquisitely over extra cover.
19.3
0
Lakmal to Mohammad Amir, no run, full and driven to extra cover.
19.2
1
Lakmal to Thushara, 1 run, And again, nicely timed from Thushara. Full on the stumps, opens the face and guides this past point. Sweeper comes around to stop the four.
19.1
1
Lakmal to Mohammad Amir, 1 run, Length ball and swings hard. It's sliced through the covers.

It's Lakmal to finish things off.

END OF OVER:
19 | 14 Runs 1 Wkt | GG: 172/9 (30 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 9.05, RRR: 30.00)

  • Nuwan Thushara4 (1b)
  • Mohammad Amir1 (1b)
  • Jayden Seales3-0-36-1
  • Suranga Lakmal2-0-17-1
18.6
4
Seales to Thushara, FOUR, Full and times this quite splendidly! Just opens the blade and guides it over point. Great shot.

Last man in now. It's Nuwan Thushara.

18.5
W
Seales to Udana, OUT, And that should be the game. Udana looks to loft this length ball straight over the bowler. But it's full and he gets under it but doesn't get the distance. Malik at long on completes a comfortable take.

I Udana c Shoaib Malik b Seales 9 (11b 1x4 0x6) SR: 81.81

18.4
1
Seales to Mohammad Amir, 1 run, Slower ball on a length, slashed over backward point from Amir. Boundary is cut off by third man.
18.3
1
Seales to Udana, 1 run, Full toss and muscled towards midwicket. Can't get the timing.
18.2
4
Seales to Udana, FOUR, Full outside off, and lofted over extra cover. Bisects the two men in the deep.
18.1
4lb
Seales to Udana, 4 leg byes, Bouncer and Udana goes for the hook, misses and is hit flush on the helmet. The ball flies away for four.

Seales is back.

So Hasaranga is limping off, with the help of two men.

END OF OVER:
18 | 4 Runs 1 Wkt | GG: 158/8 (44 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 8.77, RRR: 22.00)

  • Isuru Udana4 (7b)
  • Suranga Lakmal2-0-17-1
  • Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-30-2
17.6
W
Lakmal to Patel, OUT, Length ball and Patel gets right under this, but that's all he does. It goes high and straight to long-on who comes in from the boundary to complete an easy take.

SR Patel c Seales b Lakmal 22 (20b 0x4 1x6) SR: 110.00

17.5
1
Lakmal to Udana, 1 run, Full and chipped towards long-off but falls just short.
17.4
2
Lakmal to Udana, 2 runs, Low full toss this time, flicked away towards deep midwicket and fielded incredibly well in the deep! But Wanindu has pulled something here. Oh no, that's unfortunate.
17.3
0
Lakmal to Udana, no run, Full again, nails the yorker. Udana goes for the big booming drive and gets nowhere near it. Shaves leg stump.
17.2
0
Lakmal to Udana, no run, Full and straight and driven straight back to Lakmal.
17.1
1
Lakmal to Patel, 1 run, Pushed through the covers off a length.

Lakmal returns.

48 needed off 18.

END OF OVER:
17 | 11 Runs | GG: 154/7 (48 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 9.05, RRR: 16.00)

  • Isuru Udana1 (3b)
  • Samit Patel21 (18b)
  • Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-30-2
  • Chaturanga de Silva3-0-15-2
16.6
0
PW Hasaranga to Udana, no run, Length outside off, it's the googly and Udana tries to do...something here. Just gets an inside edge onto the pads in the end.
16.5
1
PW Hasaranga to Patel, 1 run, Back of a length and pushed through the covers.
16.4
6
PW Hasaranga to Patel, SIX, And that's gone a long way! Comes down the wicket and hits this cleanly, straight over long on.
16.3
1
PW Hasaranga to Udana, 1 run, Length ball on the stumps and pushed to extra cover.

Galle 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st63MD GunathilakaBKG Mendis
2nd0BR DunkBKG Mendis
3rd21Mohammad HafeezBKG Mendis
4th29PBB RajapaksaBKG Mendis
5th16SR PatelBKG Mendis
6th4SR PatelD Lakshan
7th10SR PatelDHAP Tharanga
8th15SR PatelI Udana
9th10Mohammad AmirI Udana
10th10Mohammad AmirN Thushara