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 innings of the tournament.
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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, bringing up his second fifty in only 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, looked dangerous before Jaffna Kings skipper Bhanuka Rajapaksa produced a stunning 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 nine balls, but the Gallants ultimately fell well short, finishing on 228 for 7.
Shiraz was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3 for 32, while Dilshan Madushanka, Shakib Al Hasan and Dunith Wellalage shared the remaining three wickets as Jaffna Kings sealed their place in a fifth Lanka Premier League final.
Brief Scores:
Jaffna Kings – 199/4 (20) Kamil Mishara 78, Avishka Fernando 66, Towhid Hridoy 35*, Shaheen Shah Afridi 3/27, Dushan Hemantha 1/20
Kandy Royals – 106 (18.2) Lahiru Udara 54, Shaheen Shah Afridi 22, Mohamed Shiraz 3/18, Dunith Wellalage 3/21
Result – Jaffna Kings won by 93 runs.
