Match Center

Right then! That is all we have from this game. The action in the Lanka Premier League will now continue on Friday, the 10th of December with a couple of matches lined up. The first match will be played between Dambulla Giants and Galle Gladiators. That match will begin at 03:00 pm local (09:30 am GMT). Jaffna Kings will take on Colombo Stars in the second match which will begin at 07:30 pm local (02:00 pm GMT). Do join us for the live-action. Till then take care and goodbye!

Thisara Perera, the victorious skipper, is in for a chat. He says the credit goes to the bowlers the way they dealt with the conditions. Mentions, the plan was to cramp the batsman and the bowlers were on the money. Adds, Fernando has been exceptional with the blade and that gave them a solid boost.

Angelo Perera, the Kandy Warriors captain says that they were expecting for the game to end with a few balls to spare the way Powell was playing. He adds that they are going to miss him a lot but Ravi Bopara will come in for him and isn't a bad replacement either. Mentions that they should have won 2 out of the 3 they have lost so far and it's due to the mistakes they have made at the death that has caused them.

Suranga Lakmal wins the Man of the Match award for his exceptional contribution with the ball. He says, he kept backing his strength and bowled straight yorkers. Adds, the wickets are tough but he made sure to bowl to his strength.

... Presentation Ceremony ...

When Jaffna Kings went into the break, they would have felt really great about the match but all that changed once they came out to field. Skipper Thisara Perera was smart enough to use spin early on and in the Powerplay, they went for around 11 an over, with the initial rate around 13. The bowling was then treated to a carnage from Rovman Powell who hit everyone out of the park. Suddenly, Jaffna Kings felt the game slipping away but it was then Suranga Lakmal who put on a commanding display of death bowling and even knocked over Powell. Jayden Seales, who wasn't having a great night with the ball, bowled a tremendous penultimate over, picking up two wickets as well. Lakmal just finished it off by bowling unplayable yorkers and Kings win their second match.

Kandy Warriors batters came out knowing they needed to step on the gas from the first ball. It was Charith Asalanka who took on the bowling early on and got his team to a great start. His partner, Kennar Lewis though found it difficult to get going. Asalanka then got out in the 40s and his place was taken by Rovman Powell. Powell went absolutely crazy as he brought up his fifty off just 15 balls. Lewis was still struggling a bit but was getting the boundaries. After Powell got out for 61, things became difficult for Warriors and they just couldn't get over the line, having been put in a decent position to do so towards the end. They just crumbled under pressure and succumb to yet another defeat.

Are you not entertained? What a game of cricket we've had tonight! The rain, the frustration and then the stunning batting display put on by both teams. In the end, it's Suranga Lakmal and Jaffna Kings who held their nerves and got over the line in an epic battle!

FOUR! A good fight by Warriors. Full and outside off. Sampath punches it through cover for a boundary. JAFFNA KINGS WIN THE GAME BY 14 RUNS (DLS).

DROPPED! Low full toss, on off. Bhanuka swings hard at it. The ball takes the outer half and flies high in the air. The ball goes towards the right of the bowler. Suranga Lakmal settles under it but fails to gather it.

Full and on off. Sampath pushes it out for a single.

BYE! Yorker, on leg. Bhanuka goes back and looks to dig it out but misses. The keeper scores a direct hit athis end. The batter stays inside the crease. The ball rolls out off the stumps and the batters collect a bye.

Full and on off. Bhanuka plays it back to the bowler.

Minod Bhanuka comes in at number 7.

OUT! RUN OUT! Full and on leg. Perera clips it to deep square leg. The batters decide to take two and it proves to be costly. The fielder collects the ball and throws it to the keeper, who collects the ball and was quick to whip the bails off. The umpire takes it upstairs to confirm. The replays show Angelo Perera was well outside the crease and he has to depart.

Is that a Run-Out? Angelo Perera knew he took a risk when he pushed for the second. The throw from the deep is perfect and Rahmanullah Gurbaz whips off the bails in a flash. The replays confirm that Perera is short of his crease and has to depart.

Tillakaratne Sampath comes in to bat. Also, Suranga Lakmal to close out the match with the ball.