Cricket Highlights, 4 August: LPL 2023 (Match 7) – Galle Titans vs Jaffna Kings

Galle Titans vs Jaffna Kings (Match 7) – Highlights

Galle Titans and Jaffna Kings faced each other in the 7th match of Lanka Premier League 2023. Batting first in that match, Galle Titans set a low score target in the allotted 20 overs. But the players of Jaffna Kings reached the target before the scheduled 20 overs were over. As a result, they left the field with a huge victory of 8 wickets. On the other hand, Dunith Wellalage won the Man of the Match award by bowling brilliantly for Jaffna Kings.

After winning the toss and opting to bat first, Gall Titans captain Dasun Shanaka invited Jaffna Kings to bowl. In their matchup with Towhid Hridoy’s Jaffna Kings, Shakib Al Hasan’s Galle Titans were unable to bat well. In that match, Galle Titans managed only 117 runs at the end of the allotted over while losing 9 wickets.

At Pallakele’s National Stadium, Galle got off to a strong start to the day. In the opening partnership, they scored 28 runs. But they were in trouble after dropping two straight wickets. Bhanuka Rajapakse returned to the dugout after starter Lasith Croospulle, without scoring any runs. With three fours, Lasith Croospulle scored 19 runs off just 12 balls.

In the third wicket partnership, Tim Seifert and Shevon Daniel attempted to take the team’s initiative. However, Wellalage directed them both to the changing rooms. Seifert finished with 18 from 23 balls, and Shevon left the game with 25 off 25. Shakib, who entered the crease after they left, was not permitted to take the team’s lead by Wellalage. Shakib was dismissed for just 6 runs off of 9 balls despite playing brilliantly for Galle Titans in the previous two games.

Captain Dasun Shanaka tried to hold onto one end, but no one could help. He was out for 30 runs off 24 balls, with two fours and two sixes, in the 19th over. The tenth house was completely out of reach for the others. Akila Dananjaya and Lahiru Samarakoon were both out for one run. Both Tabraiz Shamsi and Kasun Rajitha scored two runs. Richard Ngarava was also undefeated through six runs.

For Jaffna Kings, Dunith Wellalage smashed them with the ball by himself. In 4 overs of bowling, he took 4 wickets for only 10 runs. Nandre Burger has also taken 2 wickets in cricket. Charith Asalanka, Nuwan Thushara, and Maheesh Theekshana each claimed one wicket. 

With 44 balls left, Jaffna won the match while attempting to score 118 runs. At the Pallakele stadium, Jaffna’s two starting players, Gurbaz and Charith Asalanka, had an effortless start. But Shakib forbade them from forming a large pair. Asalanka (5), who had been trapped in lbw by Shakib for the team’s 17 runs, was returned to the Dressing room in the third over of the innings.

Hridoy then descended to the crease. Despite the objective being simple, the Tiger batsmen started off the day strongly. Shakib, a veteran national team teammate, was the first person he addressed. In the fifth over, when the Tiger all-rounder was attacking, he struck a six off the first ball. Off the following ball, he made a four. Gurbaz matched his heart on the opposite side as well. The Galle’s bowlers were thrashing in a corner by them. Gurbaz scored fifty off just 37 balls.

Just 18 runs separated from a victory Shakib struck. Gurbaz hits him down the wicket but misses the ball. As a result, the Afghan batsman was dismissed cleanly. He hit three fours and five sixes in his 54 runs off 39 balls. Hridoy, on the other hand, fled the field after declaring victory. He smacked Dhananjaya De Silva for two massive sixes in succession to close the innings. With four sixes and two fours, Hridoy had an unbeaten score of 44 from 23 balls. Additionally, David Miller had a 7-run unbeaten streak.

With four points after three games and this victory, Jaffna has moved to the top of the standings. Galle Titans dropped to two despite having equal points because the net run rate lagged.

Galle Titans vs Jaffna Kings Scoreboard

Galle Titans – 117/9 (20.0)

Jaffna Kings – 120/2 (12.4)  

Result – Jaffna Kings won by 8 wickets

Player of the match – Dunith Wellalage

Dunith Wellalage

Galle Titans vs Jaffna Kings Playing XIs