Carlos Brathwaite collected impressive figures of 4 for 18, while his country-mate Caribbean all-rounder Fabian Allen hit a brisk knock of 47 in 23 balls as Kandy Falcons made a thrilling 10-run win over Jaffna Kings in their LPL cricket fixture, played at Pallekele yesterday.
The two teams played very competitive cricket in this format while Kandy Falcons led by Wanindu Hasaranga fought back strong to win the game and maintain the top spot of the points table.
Two West Indian players Brathwaite and Allen had combined T20 experience to guide the Kandy side to defeat defending champions Jaffna Kings. This is the second time Kandy had defeated Jaffna in this tournament and both teams have shown very good fighting spirit.
Kandy Falcons choose to bat first and scored 160 for 8 wickets in their 20 overs. Opener Andre Fletcher the wicket-keeper (35) Ashen Bandara (24) gave a good start. Fabian Allen, batting at number eight, made a powerful knock of 47 in just 23 balls hitting 3 fours and 4 sixes, and all-rounder Chamika Karunaratne hit an unbeaten 18 in 9 balls with 2 sixes helping the Kandy side to reach 160 in 20 overs.Dunith Wellalage the 19-year-old leg spinner was the opening bowler and finished with very economical figures of 2 for 7 in his 4-over while paceman Dilshan Madushanka, Afghanistan wrist spinner Waqar Salamkheil, and James Fuller took 2 wickets each.
Carlos Brathwaite is the tournament’s highest wicket-taker with 15 wickets in 6 matches while skipper Wanindu Hasaranga also picked up 2 for 21. Fabian Allen was named Man of the Match.
The third leg of the Lanka Premier League will commence on December 17 at the R. Premadasa Stadium.
Chief scores:
Kandy Falcons: 160 for 8 wickets in 20 overs (Pathum Nissanka 15, Andre Fletcher 35, Kamindu Mendis 11, Ashen Bandara 24, Fabian Allen 47, Chamika Karunaratne 18*, Dunith Wellalage 2/7, Dilshan Madushanka 2/41, Waqar Salamkheil 2/40, James Fuller 2/28).
Jaffna Kings: 150 for 9 wickets in 20 overs (Avishka Fernando 33, Sadeera Samarawickrama 48, James Fuller 16, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 10*, Isuru Udana 1/27, Carlos Brathwaite 4/18, Fabian Allen 1/22, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/21).