It will be another Jaffna Kings v Galle Gallants final for the Lanka Premier League (LPL) trophy at the R Premadasa Cricket Stadium today, after Galle Gallants took the wind out of Colombo Kaps’ sails to win Qualifier 2 by six wickets yesterday.
Jaffna and Galle will meet in an LPL final for the fourth time and Galle will be hoping that they will be able to break the jinx this time of losing all three previous finals. No doubt Jaffna and Galle have emerged as the top two teams in the competition and an absorbing contest is on the cards today. Galle won the two matches in the league phase against Jaffna, and Jaffna beat Galle in Qualifier 1.
Sam Harper and Charith Asalanka simply took the game away from Colombo Kaps, making it a virtual no contest as they chased down the target of 177 with ease figuring in a second wicket stand of 126 off 83 balls. Harper who took the Player of the Match award went onto score a cracking 71 off 51 balls (4 fours, 4 sixes) and Asalanka, a stroke-filled 59 off 42 balls (3 fours, 4 sixes). Both were out within the space of four balls leaving Dasun Shanaka and Sahan Arachchige to put the finishing touches to the match with Shanaka smiting Malsha Tharupathi for a winning six.
Deciding to take first lease of the wicket after winning the toss, Colombo Kaps found themselves in dire straits at 52-5 in 6.1 overs on an absolutely flat surface. They were saved face by Rubin Hermann (45 off 33 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes) and Ravindu Fernando (48 off 27 balls, 1 four, 5 sixes) who added 70 off 43 balls. Janith Liyanage (23 off 9) and Tharupathi (28 off 17) did their little bit to give Colombo Kaps some sort of a total for their bowlers to have a crack at.
Despite Colombo Kaps’ fight back Galle Gallants stuck to their plans with some excellent fielding and spin bowling to keep the total to within
their limits.
Scores:
Colombo Kaps 176 (18.5) (Rubin Hermann 45, Janith Liyanage 23, Ravindu Fernando 48, Malsha Tharupathi 28, Charith Asalanka 2/34, Sachindu Colombage 2/34) vs. Galle Gallants 177-4 (18.4) (Sam Harper 77, Charith Asalanka 59, Ravindu Fernando 2/44)