By SrianObeyesekere

Opening batsman Avishka Fernando starred with a 32-ball 56 as Dambulla Aura upset reigning champions Jaffna Kings in a handsome stroll in the park 8-wicket hurrah with 22 balls to spare on Wednesday in the fourth fixture of the fifth edition of the Sri Lanka Cricket Lanka Premier League Tournament at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium.

Dambulla Aura, skippered by Kusal Mendis, which lost their opening game, produced a superb all-round team effort in upsetting the high riding Jaffna Kings skippered by Tissera Perera which started the tournament on a winning note winning their opening game.

It was muscle flexing returns for Mendis, who has not been in the best of form as he chipped in with a 23-ball 29 inclusive of 4 boundaries and a six in posting 76 off 49 balls with Fernando whose Player of the Match innings contained 6 boundaries and 3 sixes. Left-hander Kusal Janith Perera struck an unbeaten 34 off 22 decked with 3 boundaries and 2 over the top following his fine form blitz 40 in the previous game that Dambulla lost in a super over climax from a tied cliff hanger to Galle Titans in the previous game. With him was one drop Sadeera Samarawickrama who hung on for 12 off 22.

Jaffna Kings came apart having batted first on winning the toss despite a 52-ball 56 by Charith Asalanka inclusive of 5 boundaries and a six with the next best being Towhid Hridoy 24 off 20 (2×4). Pacer Binura Fernando was the pick of the Dambulla attack claiming 2 for 27.

CHIEF SCORES:

Jaffna Kings 129/7 (20 Overs)

(Charith Asalanka 56, Towhid Hridoy 24, Rahmanullah Gurbaziller 14, David Miller 14, Binura Fernando 2/27, Hayden Kerr 1/16,  Dhananjaya de Silva 1/17, Noor Ahmad 1/27, Shahnawaz Dahani 1/36 )

Galle Titans 132/2 (16.2 Overs)

(Avishka Fernando 52, Kusal Mendis 29, Kusal Janith Perera n.o. 34, Sadeera Samarawickrama n.o. 12, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 1/24, Dunith Wellalage 1/27)