Dambulla win low scoring thriller

In all three previous seasons of the Lanka Premier League, Jaffna Kings have been hardly tested. They have cruised to title wins in all three editions but this time, opposition teams have cracked their magic and found a way to beat them. This is despite Jaffna having the biggest purse to put up a formidable team with some fine overseas and local signings and the best of the coaching staff.

On Monday, Dambulla Aura handed Jaffna another defeat, their third loss in five games. Two of those defeats have come against Dambulla.

Dambulla got off to a disastrous start losing the openers in the first over and a target of 135 wasn’t going to test Jaffna.

But Hasan Ali came up with an inspired effort of three wickets to restrict Jaffna to 125 for seven to win by nine runs.

Shoaib Malik’s all-round efforts of two wickets and 74 not out went in vain.

Brief Scores:

Dambulla Aura

134-8 (20) (Sadeera Samarawickrama 30, Kusal Perera 41, Nuwan Thusara 2-26, Shoaib Malik 2-13)

Jaffna Kings

125-7 (20) (Shoaib Malik 74, Hasan Ali 3-20, Binura Fernando 1-8, Hayden Kerr 1-21)

Result:

Dambulla Aura won by nine runs