Match 6, Kandy, December 10, 2022, 07:30 PM
Jaffna Kings
147/7(20.0ov)
Kandy Falcons
148/7(20.0ov)
Kandy Falcons beat Jaffna Kings by 3 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Chamika Karunaratne
Commentry
Right then, that is all we have from this cracker of a game! We will have a double dose of action on Sunday, 11th of December. First up, Colombo Stars will take on Galle Gladiators. That game will start at 3 pm IST (9.30 am GMT). The second game will be between Jaffna Kings and Dambulla Aura. It will start at 7.30 pm IST (2 pm GMT). Do join us for the build-up of both these games. Cheers!
Wanindu Hasaranga, the skipper of Kandy Falcons says that in the middle overs they lost wickets but Chamika Karunaratne and Ashen Bandara finished the game and that was great. Tells that when fast bowlers were bowling, he realised that the wicket was slow so he brought spinners into the attack. Mentions that Ashen Bandara batted well and they felt that he was tired as he had fielded for 20 overs as well so they decided to bring Isuru Udana in place of him in the last over ase Udana can hit big shots as well.
Thisara Perera, the skipper of Jaffna Kings says that as a batting unit they should have scored more runs. Tells that 160 would have been a good score but he is proud of the effort of his bowlers. Adds that they wanted to expose their youngsters and that is why he batted down the order and adds that he is proud of his boys.
Chamika Karunaratne is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his brilliant cameo of 26 off just 16 balls! He says that he loves the game and he just wanted to play. Tells that he is in pain but he just wanted to give his best and do something special. Talks about his recovery after the injury and says that is not good but he wanted to fight it out there and keep pushing himself and just wanted to prove himself.
Presentation time.
The story of the first half of the game was also quite similar. Kandy Falcons spinners too were brilliant after their pacers were a bit expensive. The duo of Wanindu Hasaranga and Fabian Allen did a great job for them and Kings were restricted to a below par total as Avishka Fernando, Shoaib Malik and Dunith Wellalage all got starts but could not kick onto make a substantial score. They did make a match out of it with brilliant bowling but it is sports and we can have only one winner and it is the home team who take crucial points from this game.
Jaffna Kings would be pretty proud of their bowling effort though they lost the game in the end. They did not have enough runs in the kitty but kept fighting even though things looked pretty easy for Kandy Falcons in the first half of this chase. The young Dunith Wellalage turned the game around with two big wickets of Pathum Nissanka and Wanindu Hasaranga and rest of the spinners also bowled well. However. Fuller who was impressive thoughout the game failed to keep his composure in the last over and Kandy Falcons managed to pull off a special victory in the end.
It we talk about this run-chase, it was a roller-coaster of a ride. Kandy Falcons lost two wickets in the Powerplay but managed to score at a good rate and were in the driver's seat till the 9th over. However, once they lost Nissanka in the 10th over, the momentum shifted as they started losing wickets at regular intervals and the scoring also became difficult. Ashen Bandara though kept playing a steady knock at the other end and then it was the knock of Chamika Karunaratne at the back end who hit two sixes in the last over when they needed 16 that took them over the line.
Wow! What a cracker of a match we have witnessed here! Take a bow, Chamika Karunaratne! He was injured in the last game and had stitches near his mouth but he decided to fight it on and play this game and boy, what a fighter he is! He has pulled off a heist for his side and this is exactly the game which every fan dreams of. Fantatsic stuff! Kandy Falcons make it three in three while Jaffna Kings have lost their first game but they should be proud of their effort.
In over# 20
1b
1
1
1b
6
6
James Fuller 35/1(4)
19.6
1b
Oh, Kandy Falcons have stealed a bye here! What an anti-climax and what a win this is for Kandy Falcons! A slower length delivery, outside off. Udana tries to drive it towards the off side but misses. The ball goes off the bounce to the keeper but Chamika Karunaratne charges to take a bye and the keeper has a shy at the batter's end but misses. The bowler collects the ball and tries to hit it towards the stumps at the bowler's end but misses and the home team manage to take a bye. Kandy Falcons win by three wickets!
19.5
1
On the shorter side and around off. Chamika Karunaratne slaps it to covers. The fielder dives and half-stops it. A single is taken. Chamika Karunaratne looks for a second run too but Udana is not aware. Great drama on the field and the scores are level now! Last ball and the home team need a run to win this one!
19.4
1
Back fo a length and a slower one again. Udana gets an inside edge as he tries to slap it. The ball goes past the stumps to short fine leg. A single is taken as the fielder stops it with a dive. Two in two needed now!
19.3
1b
A slower short delivery and outside off. Chamika Karunaratne swings across the line but misses. The ball goes off the bounce to the keeper and the batters have stealed a bye.
19.2
6
SIX! Oh, Chamika Karunaratne you champion! He has hit another one over the fence! This is full and outside off. Chamika Karunaratne reaches for it and slices it over deep point for a maximum. 4 needed now from 4 balls!
19.1
6
SIX! Chamika Karunaratne with a big blow! What a shot! On a length, on off. Chamika Karunaratne stands still in his crease and tonks it down the ground for a maxiumum.
Isuru Udana walks out to the middle as Kandy Falcons need 16 runs from 6 balls! James Fuller to bowl the last over!
In over# 19
2
4
1wd
2
1
4
1
Zaman Khan 36/1(3)
18.6
2
Good running! On a length, on off. Bandara mistimes his pull shot to deep mid-wicket. He takes the single quickly and charges back for the second run. The fielder throws it at the batter's end and the keeper whips the bails off. However, Bandara makes his ground with a dive.