Skipper Thisara Perera starred in an astounding Player of the Match 23-ball unbeaten 57 as Jaffna Kings walloped Colombo Stars by 93 runs in the ninth fixture of the Lanka Premier League 2021 at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Friday.
It was a truly king-sized job in amassing 207 for 6 off just 18 overs and dismissing Colombo Stars for just 114 in 15.5 overs in the rain reduced ninth fixture of the mega tournament and the second day/night of the day.
Perera plundered 5 sixes and 3 boundaries in a final assault of the Colombo Stars bowlers after Shoaib Malik had set it up with a compelling 24-ball 44 filled with 2 sixes and 4 boundaries. Malik’s effort was remarkable having taken strike with the side on 2 for 10. He shared in a third wicket partnership of 70 runs with Tom Kohler-Cadmore who struck 40 off 21, and 44 for the fourth wicket with Ashen Bandara who made 42 off 30.
The comprehensive win took Jaffna Kings to the top of the points table with 6 points from three wins. Colombo Stars came a cropper against the wily spin of Maheesh Theekshana who took 4 for 25 and Wahab Riaz 4 for 26 backed by Wanindu Hasaranga 2 for 17.
Ashan Priyanjan top scored for Colombo Kings with 35 followed by Dinesh Chandimal 28 and Tom Banton 18.