The four-time champions Jaffna Kings roared into yet another LPL final with a 14-run win over Galle Gallants in the high-scoring Qualifier 1 at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.
Having won the toss, Galle Gallants captain Dasun Shanaka opted to bowl first. The Gallants included Eshan Malinga in the starting XI, leaving out Chamika Karunaratne. Jaffna Kings, meanwhile, made three changes, bringing in Towhid Hridoy, Mohamed Shiraz and Traveen Mathew in place of Dilshan Madushanka, Praveen Maneesha and Zahoor Khan.
Jaffna’s opening stand was worth 35 before Avishka Fernando fell to Akif Javed for 19 in 4.4 overs. However, they finished the powerplay strongly, with Khawaja Nafay taking 18 runs off the sixth over bowled by the opposition captain. He and Kamil Mishara then put on a batting masterclass for the second wicket, registering the highest partnership of the season. The left-hand, right-hand duo shared a brilliant 138-run stand in just 65 balls, setting the stage for a grand finish. In the process, the 24-year-old Pakistani batter Nafay scored his maiden LPL fifty in his first outing with the bat.
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After reaching his fifty in 31 balls, Mishara continued piling on the runs and raced to his maiden LPL hundred off just 49 deliveries, smashing 46 runs in his next 18 balls. Towhid Hridoy then provided the late flourish with an unbeaten 54 off just 21 balls, helping Jaffna Kings post the highest total in the tournament’s history. The final over, bowled by Shanaka, went for 22 runs as the unbroken third-wicket partnership of 71 off just 28 balls lifted the Kings to a formidable 242 for 2.
Shiraz provided the perfect start with the ball, removing Thomas Rogers for a three-ball duck in the opening over. Sam Harper and Charith Asalanka then looked to maximise the powerplay, racing to 60 in the first four overs. However, Jaffna pulled things back through Lizaad Williams, who dismissed both batters in his first two overs. Harper once again provided a flying start, scoring 44 off 21 deliveries.
Eventually, the Gallants slipped to 97 for 4, but Chamika Karunaratne and Dasun Shanaka brought them back into the contest with a counter-attacking partnership. Their 63-run stand came off just 27 balls before both set batters were dismissed in consecutive overs. Karunaratne, who came in as the Impact Player, was batting well before Jaffna Kings skipper Bhanuka Rajapaksa produced a fine catch at backward point to dismiss him for 39.
After Shanaka departed for 34, Galle’s hopes of chasing down the target faded with him. Sachindu Colombage struck an unbeaten 27 off just 9 balls, but the Gallants fell well short, finishing on 228 for 7. Shiraz was the chief destroyer with figures of 3 for 32.
Galle Gallants will face the winner of tonight’s Eliminator between Colombo Kaps and Kandy Royals in Qualifier 2 on Friday.
Brief Scores:
Jaffna Kings – 242/2 (20) Kamil Mishara 108*, Towhid Hridoy 54*, Khawaja Nafay 54, Akif Javed 1/46
Galle Gallants – 228/8 (20) Sam Harper 44, Chamika Karunaratne 39, Dasun Shanaka 34, Mohamed Shiraz 3/32, Lizaad Williams 2/39
Result – Jaffna Kings won by 14 runs.
