Bhanuka Rajapaksa in full flow as he guides his team Jaffna Kings to victory
Bhanuka Rajapaksa yesterday played a captain’s innings of 61* off 37 balls (4 fours, 4 sixes) with a strike rate of 165 to lead defending champions Jaffna Kings to their first win of the tournament after faltering against Galle Gallants in their opening encounter on Friday.
Rajapaksa’s innings proved to be a decisive factor in a low-scoring game on a slow pitch, where run-making was not easy. Coming to the wicket at 35-3 in the seventh over, the left-hander took a little time to get his bearings and then picked on the moments to attack to get his team ahead of the required rate following a poor first 10 overs when they were 56-3. The longer he stayed at the wicket, Rajapaksa, who took the Player of the Match award, grew in confidence and completed a well-deserved half-century to get his team over the line with an over to spare.
He received support from Ibrahim Zadran (21) in a fourth-wicket stand of 47 off 35 balls, and Dunith Wellalage (11*), a further 39 off 26 that saw his team seal victory.
Earlier, Dambulla Sixers, invited to bat first, struggled throughout their innings of 130 against the seam of Lizaad Williams (3/14) and the spin of Traveen Mathew (3/19) and Shakib Al Hasan (2/12). Pavan Rathnayake’s 27 off 16 was the only noteworthy innings for Dambulla Sixers. – [ST]
Scores:
Dambulla Sixers 130 (19.3) (Niroshan Dickwella 23, Pavan Rathnayake 27, Shakib Al Hasan 2/12, Lizaad Williams 3/14, Traveen Mathew 3/19)
Jaffna Kings 133-5 (19) (Ibrahim Zadran 21, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 61*, Dushmantha Chameera 2/21)