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JAFFNA KINGS 178/5 (20 OVERS)
- Shoaib Malik*35 (26)
- Avishka Fernando32 (31)
- Benny Howell2/37 (4)
- Naveen-ul-Haq1/28 (4)
COLOMBO STRIKERS 172/8 (20 OVERS)
- Angelo Mathews*73 (38)
- Benny Howell43 (20)
- James Fuller2/32 (4)
- Vijayakanth Viyaskanth2/32 (4)
Scorer: K Vairavan | Commentator: Abhimanyu Bose
END OF OVER:20 | 15 Runs 1 Wkt | CLS: 172/8 (7 runs required, RR: 8.60)
- Angelo Mathews73 (38b)
- Kasun Rajitha1 (1b)
- James Fuller4-0-32-2
- Asitha Fernando4-1-31-1
11.30pm So that's a wrap from this game. We have more action tomorrow, with Dambulla Aura taking on the Kandy Falcons and Colombo Stars returning to face Galle Gladiators. For now, this is Abhimanyu Bose signing off on behalf of Madushka Balasurya, K Vairavan and Binoy George!
11.25pm Presentation time
James Fuller is the player of the match.
Fuller: "The game looked like it was dead after 10 overs, but they did really well to bring the game back, Angelo, Benny and Drakes. We tried to stick to our plans at the end. I was bowling to my good mate Benny Howell [in the final over] so I was thinking wouldn't it be nice to get him out. And after that tried to follow the same plans, taking pace off but Angelo slammed two huge ones. Tried to bowl the yorker as well but it was slippery in the dewy conditions."
Losing captain Angelo Mathews: "Unfortunately we couldn't get over the line but credit to the boys, they tried really hard. [On whether he will continue in middle order] Let's see how it goes, don't want to give too much away. We did well to keep Jaffna to 178. I thought that was a good over. Benny was brilliant."
Thisara Perera, the winning captain: "I always back my bowlers. More than 20 [in the final over] is really hard but on this surface, I really give credit to my bowlers. I told Fuller just do your best, never think of the end result, just do your best. If you are doing good things you don't need to take pressure. We are all professional cricketers, we have experience like Shoaib Malik. We have players who have played for the national team so they are guiding the youngsters. Definitely will give chance to new faces in the coming games."
11.22pm Afeef: "I thought Mathews was about to do a Brathwaite. Still a good fightback from him and Howell." Indeed, that was a brilliant recovery and the two nearly pulled off a highly unlikely win for their team. Mathews was at fault for Drakes' run-out, but made up for it with that blitzkrieg innings.
11.18pm Right then, what a finish that was. Colombo Stars looked done and dusted at 67 for 7 in the thirteenth over. But an incredible display of hitting by Mathews and Benny Howell took the match to a thrilling finish. Mathews hit two sixes in the final over, but in the end it was not enough as the Jaffna Kings secure a slender win. Fuller and Viyaskanth both returned figures of 2-32, while Asitha Fernando, Thisara Perera and Theekshana took one wicket apiece.
Earlier, a great team effort with the bat saw them post 178 for 5. They stalled in the middle after a good start by their top three, before Shoaib Malik, Sadeera Samarawickrama and Perera upped the ante to finish strong.
With that win, the Jaffna Kings go on top of the table with eight points from five matches
While no one batt
Angelo Mathews pulls out at the last minute of Fuller's delivery stride and the bowler falls on the follow through. Mathews points to the sightscreen and thankfully Fuller looks fit and fine to bowl the final delivery
9 needed off 2 now!
Kasun Rajitha comes out to bat. He will look to get Mathews on strike for sure
BAC Howell c Shoaib Malik b Fuller 43 (20b 5x4 2x6) SR: 215.00
22 needed off the final over. Jaffna Kings will have to keep an extra fielder inside the ring due to their slow over-rate. With the way these two are batting, we are in for a thrilling finish!
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