SAHAN ARACHCHIGE DELIVERS LAST BALL BOUNDARY
By Srian Obeyesekere
Alex Hales turned out to be the marvel in Galle Marvels nerve tingling last ball triumph over Jaffna Kings by 5 wickets as the England star delighted with 65 off 47 balls hitting 7 boundaries and 2 sixes in another high scoring Lanka Premier League contest at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Chasing 178 runs after Jaffna Kings had scored 177 for 7 off 20 overs in opting to take first lease, Hales and skipper Niroshan Dickwella set the tone with the Lankan blazing 47 off 27 balls striking 8 boundaries and a six adding 66 in 7.1 overs.
Hales took over the gauntlet following Dickwella’s dismissal in the 8th over taking the score to 110 together with Tim Seifert 10 off 13, and was third out with the score on 127 after 15 overs with next man in Bhanuka Rajapaksa (1×6) a run a ball 13 in combining with Janith Liyanage 25 off 13 as Galle reached 145 for 4 in 17.2 overs. Liyanage held forth to taking his side within sight of victory falling with the score on 173. With three more deliveries to go, left-hander Sahan Arachchige brought the crowd to their feet with a last ball boundary off Asith Fernando in his 5 off 2 with Dwaine Pretorius at the other end on a game 9 off 5 sending one over the top.
Jaffna Kings innings revolved around half centuries from Pathum Nissanka 51 off 33 with 6 boundaries and 2 sixes and Avishka Fernando 59 off 48 with 7 boundaries and a six and skipper Charith Asalanka 33 off 15 with 3 boundaries and 2 sixes, and Dhananjaya de Silva 18 off 8 with 2 boundaries and a six scripting to 177 for 7 after Kusal Mendis had upfront fallen for 4 to Zahoor Khan who had the opener caught by Isuru Udana. Khan was the pick of the Galle bowlers claiming 3 for 34.
CHIEF SCORES:
Jaffna Kings 177/7 (20 Overs)
(Pathum Nissanka 51, Avishka Fernando 59, Charith Asalanka 33, Dhananjaya de Silva 18,
(Zahoor Khan 3/34, Dwaine Pretorius 2/23, Isuru Udana 2/60)
Galle Marvels 179/5 (20 Overs)
(Alex Hales 66, Niroshan Dickwella 47, Janith Liyanage 25, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 13, Tim Seifert 10, Dwaine Pretorius n.o. 9, Sahan Arachchige n.o. 5, Asitha Fernando 2/40 Fabian Allen 2/33, Dhananjaya de Silva 1/16)
