Jaffna Stallions unbeaten after Perera onslaught

Thisara Perera smashed 97 runs off 44 balls to help Jaffna Stallions to a comprehensive 66 run win over Dambulla Viikings in the LPL yesterday.

You wouldn’t find a better hitter of the cricket ball than Thisara Perera and yesterday he once again proved what damage he can do with the bat as he smashed 97 off 44 balls to rescue Jaffna Stallions innings in an LPL encounter against Dambulla Viikings at Suriyawewa.

Jaffna were struggling at 64 for five when Thisara walked into bat and then he stitched some valuable partnerships with the tail to change the complexion of the game.  

The Jaffna captain reached his half-century off 27 balls and after that cleared the boundary with little trouble. There were eight fours and seven sixes during his knock. He was particularly harsh on Lahiru Kumara who went for 30 runs in the 19th over of the innings. That’s the most expensive over in the competition so far.

Perera just missed a well deserved hundred but his 97 runs did the trick for his side. .

Jaffna’s 218 proved to be too much for Dambulla, who were bowled out for 152 to lose by 66 runs. 

Samit Patel, who turned 36 yesterday top scored with 41 runs for Dambulla. Patel was striking the ball well having hit four sixes and it needed a special delivery to end his innings. Wanindu Hasaranga bowled a superb wrong’un that deceived the batsman and bowled him.

There was some superb fast bowling on display as well with Usman Shinwari and Duanne Olivier being the stand out performers. Ramesh Mendis copped a nasty one from Olivier on his helmet as he was given a taste of what it means to face international fast bowling,

Shinwari finished with three wickets. Perera had a great game of cricket overall picking up two wickets as well along with his 97 runs, his career best score in T-20s.

Jaffna are unbeaten in the competition.