18/12Result
17th Match, Lanka Premier League at Colombo, Dec 18 2022
Jaffna won by 16 runs
Player of the Match
Afif Hossain
Afif HossainJaffna Kings
18/12Result
17th Match, Lanka Premier League at Colombo, Dec 18 2022
Jaffna won by 16 runs
Player of the Match
Afif Hossain
Afif HossainJaffna Kings

END OF OVER:
20 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | GG: 154/9 (17 runs required, RR: 7.70)

  • Nuwan Thushara2 (3b)
  • Lakshan Sandakan1 (1b)
  • Binura Fernando4-0-20-3
  • James Fuller4-0-57-2

6:42pm Right. That will be that for this game from me (Shashwat) and Sudeep. But in the LPL, action is never too far away. In less than an hour, Dambulla Aura will take on the Kandy Falcons in what is a must-win clash for Dasun Shanaka's men. Until next time, goodbye and take care!

Thisara Perera, Jaffna Kings captain: As a batting unit, we did very well. Of the three venues, this is better because the dew factor is not as dangerous here. We all know how much capability we have. Definitely we can do something special.

Kusal Mendis, Galle Gladiators captain: (On feeling the pressure) No, but we want to win the game tomorrow. I think we can win tomorrow. The wicket was very good. 10-15 runs less and we could have chased this total. We lost early wickets and that is why we could not chase it down.

Afif Hossain, Player of the Match: I was playing on this surface after a long time. It was looking to take my time. My teammates helped me a lot and made it feel like home. (On the pitch) After I got set, the wicket was very good to bat on. (On his dismissal) I timed the ball so well but it was straight to the fielder. It was a bit disappointing. If I finish off well, it would be good for me and the team.

Time for the post-match presentation.

6:34pm Well, that turned into a fairly comfortable victory for the Kings in the end. They had to sweat for a chunk of their innings, especially when Iftikhar and Mendis threatened to take the game away. But once the former was dismissed, the latter was deprived of strike. Wahab came out and swung wildly, consuming deliveries and keeping Mendis off strike. In fact, Mendis only faced two balls during their 17-ball stand - something that ultimately cost them the game.

The Kings, on the other hand, would be chuffed with how they pulled things back. Their spinners were at it again, bamboozling the batters and ensuring that the required run-rate kept creeping up. Binura was also in his element, returning with a three-wicket haul and illustrating just how crucial he is to this set-up. This win also means that the Kings have now secured a top two spot.

19.6
1
B Fernando to Thushara, 1 run, Kings win by 16 runs! Full delivery on leg stump. Thushara pokes it into the off side and ambles across for a single
19.5
1
B Fernando to Sandakan, 1 run, short and slow outside off stump. Sandakan waits an eternity for it before dabbing it down to deep backward point for a single

Two legitimate deliveries and the Kings are home

19.4
1
B Fernando to Thushara, 1 run, low full toss on middle and leg stump. Thushara gives himself room and pushes it towards extra cover for a single

20 off 3 now

19.3
0
B Fernando to Thushara, no run, banged into the track at the batter. Thushara backs away and then leaves the ball alone. Okay, this is strange

Thushara on strike now

19.2
W
B Fernando to Pradeep, OUT, cleans him up with a corker! Fast, full and honing in on off stump. Pradeep has a swing at it because, well why not, and is too late on the stroke. The ball breezes past the bat and thunders into the stumps!

N Pradeep b B Fernando 0 (2b 0x4 0x6) SR: 0.00

19.1
0
B Fernando to Pradeep, no run, short on middle and off stump. Pradeep has a hopeless swipe at it and misses

Binura to bowl the final over. Surely the Kings will not botch this up?

AnuraR: "Poor tactics by GG. Mendis should keep strike and steer the game." -- Mendis only faced two balls in that partnership with Wahab. Maybe that is where the game was lost

END OF OVER:
19 | 16 Runs 2 Wkts | GG: 151/8 (20 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.94, RRR: 20.00)

  • Nuwan Pradeep0 (0b)
  • James Fuller4-0-57-2
  • Binura Fernando3-0-17-2
18.6
W
Fuller to Mendis, OUT, straight to deep mid wicket! Dug into the track outside off stump. Mendis looks to smear it over deep mid wicket but does not quite get the required elevation. He arrows it straight down deep mid wicket's throat, and Malik makes no mistake! Is that the game?

BKG Mendis c Shoaib Malik b Fuller 58 (45b 7x4 1x6) SR: 128.88

20 off 7 now

18.6
5w
Fuller to Mendis, 5 wides, oh dear, oh dear! Full toss speared a mile outside leg stump. Mendis lets it go and the keeper is nowhere close to reaching it. Galle are still in this, folks!
18.5
4
Fuller to Mendis, FOUR, shot! Back of a length delivery outside off stump. Mendis opens up his stance and pummels it past mid off for four

Mendis back on strike. But Galle now need 29 off 8 balls. Is the game already beyond them?

18.4
W
Fuller to Wahab Riaz, OUT, Wahab's misery is finally cut short! Sharp and rising outside off stump. Wahab has a hack at it and misses. Mendis calls him through for the single and the keeper holds his nerve to roll it back to the bowler, who gathers and hits the stumps at the non-striker's end

Wahab Riaz run out 13 (15b 1x4 0x6) SR: 86.66

18.3
2
Fuller to Wahab Riaz, 2 runs, short delivery outside off stump. Wahab throws his hands at it and slaps it over extra cover. The fielder on the fence nearly overruns it but no damage done. Poor running, though. No urgency whatsoever
18.2
4
Fuller to Wahab Riaz, FOUR, dropped, and it goes for four too! Length delivery outside off stump. Wahab whips it towards deep square leg, where Wellalage runs to his left but can't complete the catch. To add to his woes, he palms it away for a boundary as well!
18.1
1lb
Fuller to Mendis, 1 leg bye, back of a length delivery darted into the batter on leg stump. Mendis plays all over it and the ball pings off the pads into the off side for a single. Mendis again off strike!

Fuller to bowl the penultimate over. 36 needed off 12 balls

END OF OVER:
18 | 5 Runs | GG: 135/6 (36 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.50, RRR: 18.00)

  • Wahab Riaz7 (12b)
  • Kusal Mendis54 (42b)
  • Binura Fernando3-0-17-2
  • Maheesh Theekshana4-0-18-1
17.6
0
B Fernando to Wahab Riaz, no run, another yorker outside off stump. Wahab has another swipe at it but guess what, he misses!

Mendis has faced just one ball since the 2nd ball of the 16th over

17.5
2
B Fernando to Wahab Riaz, 2 runs, safe! Back of a length delivery outside off stump. Wahab has a hack at it and places it perfectly between deep mid wicket and deep square leg
17.4
0
B Fernando to Wahab Riaz, no run, another yorker outside off stump. Wahab continues swinging like a rusty gate and keeps missing
17.3
0
B Fernando to Wahab Riaz, no run, another off-pace delivery on a back of a length on off stump. Wahab has a wild slog at it and misses

Getafix: "As long as Kusal Mendis is in the middle, The GG's are in with a good chance of stealing this one right from under the noses of the Jaffna Kings" -- He has not been on strike enough in the past couple of overs, in my opinion

17.2
2
B Fernando to Wahab Riaz, 2 runs, full delivery on middle and leg stump. Wahab comes forward and drives it down the ground past mid off for a couple of runs
17.1
0
B Fernando to Wahab Riaz, no run, searing yorker on middle and off stump. Wahab just about gets his bat in time and digs it out towards the bowler
17.1
1w
B Fernando to Wahab Riaz, 1 wide, slower bumper outside off stump. Wahab has a swish at it and misses. And, the umpire thinks it is wide enough to be called a wide!

Okay, this game seems to be getting away from the Gladiators. 41 needed off 118 now, and they need a big over here to release the pressure. Binura returns

END OF OVER:
17 | 3 Runs | GG: 130/6 (41 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.64, RRR: 13.66)

  • Wahab Riaz3 (6b)
  • Kusal Mendis54 (42b)
  • Maheesh Theekshana4-0-18-1
  • James Fuller3-0-42-1
16.6
1
Theekshana to Wahab Riaz, 1 run, back of a length delivery just outside off stump. Wahab drops the ball into the off side and trudges across to the other end
16.5
0
Theekshana to Wahab Riaz, no run, back of a length delivery outside off stump that nips away. Wahab has a swish at it but only grabs a handful of fresh air
16.4
0
Theekshana to Wahab Riaz, no run, another top yorker just outside off stump. Wahab is late on the stroke and can't dig it out

Galle 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st10BKG MendisPTM Dabare
2nd0BKG MendisLU Igalagamage
3rd19Asad ShafiqBKG Mendis
4th36BKG MendisMNK Fernando
5th45Iftikhar AhmedBKG Mendis
6th16Imad WasimBKG Mendis
7th16Wahab RiazBKG Mendis
8th9N PradeepBKG Mendis
9th0N PradeepPADLR Sandakan
10th3PADLR SandakanN Thushara