Cricket Highlights, 18 Aug: LPL 2023 (Eliminator) – B-Love Kandy vs Jaffna Kings: B-Love Kandy makes it to Qualifier 2 by defeating three-time champions Jaffna Kings

B-Love Kandy vs Jaffna Kings (Eliminator) – Highlights

The Lankan bowler Wanindu Hasaranga single-handedly defeated Jaffna Kings by picking up 6 wickets for just 9 runs. With that, B-Love Kandy secured the second qualifier with a big win. On top of that, B-Love Kandy Captain Hasaranga was named the player of the match for his impeccable performance.

B-Love Kandy defeated Jaffna Kings by 61 runs in the Eliminator round of Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2023 on Thursday (August 17). Chasing the challenging score of 189 runs given by B-Love Kandy, the innings of Jaffna Kings stopped when they got only 127 runs in 17.2 overs losing all wickets.

Charith Asalanka (1 run from 6 balls) gave away the wicket early in the run chase. Then Chris Lynn and Rahmanullah Gurbaz tried to take the lead of the team in the second wicket. But Gurbaz returned to the dressing room after getting run out at the team’s 32 runs due to a misunderstanding. With 1 four and 2 sixes, his innings stopped at 19 runs off 10 balls.

Then, Dunith Wellalage (3) could not settle after coming to the crease. Hasaranga showed him the way to the pavilion when he attacked in the seventh over. Chris Lynn was also bowled by the spin magic of the Lankan leg-spinner after one ball. 19 runs came from 19 balls from his bat. Jaffna Kings fell under pressure after losing 4 wickets for 49 runs.

On the fifth wicket, Shoaib Malik and David Miller tried to bring the team back into the fight. But their pair could not go far against Hasaranga cannon. Miller scored 26 individual runs in 20 balls with 2 sixes in a partnership of 51 runs with Malik. Malik survived till the 17th over but could not lead the team to victory. His innings ended with 31 runs off 23 balls, with 3 fours and 1 six.

No other batsman in the team could refrain from Hasaranga’s spin. Hasaranga took the maximum of 6 wickets at the cost of only 9 runs at an economy rate of 2.70 in 3.2 overs. This is the best bowling figure in LPL history. Earlier in 2021, Jeffrey Vandersay’s 6 wickets at the cost of 25 runs was the best bowling figure of the tournament. Besides, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Nuwan Pradeep, and Sahan Arachchige got 1 wicket each.

Batting first on that day, B-Love Kandy collected 188 runs after losing 8 wickets at the end of the scheduled 20 overs. Opener Mohammad Haris played a major role in bringing the team a big collection. He played an excellent innings of 79 runs off 49 balls, with 8 fours and 4 sixes.

Apart from this, wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Chandimal was also brilliant with the bat that day. He scored 41 runs off 24 balls with 6 fours and 1 six. The rest did not shine much. Otherwise, the team’s collection could have crossed two hundred. Nuwan Thushara took a maximum of 4 wickets for Jaffna Kings. Besides, Maheesh Theekshana and Asela Gunaratne took 2 wickets each.

Meanwhile, B-Love Kandy confirmed the second qualifier with a great victory in this life-and-death match. Where their opponent is Shakib-Litton’s Galle Titans. The winner of the match between the two teams on Friday (August 18) will get a ticket to the finale. While Dambulla Aura is waiting for the title after defeating Galle Titans in the first qualifier.

B-Love Kandy vs Jaffna Kings Scoreboard

B-Love Kandy – 188/8 (20.0)

Jaffna Kings – 127/10 (17.2)

Result – B-Love Kandy won by 61 runs

Player of the match – Wanindu Hasaranga

B-Love Kandy vs Jaffna Kings Playing Xis