Big win gives Jaffna Kings momentum in LPL

After an inauspicious start on Sunday, losing the curtain-raiser to Galle Gladiators by 54 runs, defending champions Jaffna Kings found some momentum with a comprehensive eight wicket win over Dambulla Giants at RPS yesterday. Having bowled out Giants for 110 runs inside 20 overs, Kings knocked off the target with more than seven overs to spare.

Jaffna Kings are a well balanced side and their defeat in the opening game is further proof that in T-20 cricket there aren’t any favourites. They played like a champion outfit yesterday. Dambulla Giants have a formidable bowling unit in their ranks and could bounce back after yesterday disappointing game.

Maheesh Theekshana shared the new ball with Power Plays on like he did during Sri Lanka’s campaign in the T-20 World Cup. He was quite handful picking up three wickets. Suranga Lakmal too struck early as Giants were reduced to 26 for three and never recovered. Wanindu Hasaranga’s leg-spin in the middle overs fetched him three wickets for just 16 runs. Giants neither had a solid start nor a good finish and their middle order batting was a disaster.

Sri Lankan fans were not too happy that they missed out seeing Jayden Seales during the recent Test series. The 20-year-old quick from Trinidad is said to be the next big superstar from the West Indies and he showcased why bowling with fire. He finished with two wickets.

Most bowling attacks would have struggled to defend 111 and so did Giants. In their line-up was the monstrous Marchant de Langa, the gigantic South African quick who gave Sri Lankan batsmen nightmares on his Test debut in Durban ten years ago. De Langa claimed seven wickets in the first innings but was heard little after that as he turned Kolpak like many super talented white South Africans.

Avishka Fernando pulling de Langa for six to the mid-wicket region was one of the best sights of the game last evening. His 33 off 27 balls contained three sixes and one four. Avishka and Kent batsman Tom Kohler-Cadmore added 63 runs for the second wicket in 41 deliveries.

Kohler-Cadmore was unbeaten on 45 in 30 deliveries with five fours and two sixes as the victory was achieved in the 13th over. Shoaib Malik finished things off in a rush hitting Nuwan Pradeep for three sixes in an over. The third six leveled the scores and in the next over Kohler-Cadmore brought up the winning runs with a boundary.

Maheesh Theekshana was Player of the Match, the impact he’s had in a very short span is truly unbelievable.