By Srian Obeyesekere

South African, Rilee Rossouw came trumps up smashing the fastest LPL century off 44 balls in Jaffna Kings 7-wicket win over Colombo Strikers with nine balls to spare at the Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday. The win brought back the table leaders to their fourth win from the previous day’s defeat to Dambulla Sixers as the former champions chased down 189 on a high of 190 for 3 wickets with 9 balls to spare having contained their rivals to 188 for 8 in 20 overs.

Rossouw’s unbeaten 108 off 50 balls was heightened by 6 over the top and 12 scorching boundaries as the left-hander shrugged aside the early losses of openers Kusal Mendis 5 and Pathum Nissanka 6 in combining in a game changing 120 partnership for the third-wicket with the inform Avishka Fernando who struck 58 off 35 balls inclusive of 7 boundaries and 2 sixes.

Glenn Phillips top scored for the Colombo Strikers with 58 off 32 hitting 6 boundaries and 3 sixers with next best contributions from Angelo Perera 34 who was forced to retire hurt, and Rahmanullah Gurbaz 27.

Jaffna Kings main wicket takers were Azmatullah Omarzai 2 for 31 and Asitha Fernando 2 for 38.

CHIEF SCORES:

Colombo Strikers 188/8 (20 Overs)

(Glenn Phillips 58, Angelo Perera 34 retired hurt, Rahmanullah Gurbaz 27, TA hisara Perera 13, Dunith Wellalage 13, Taskin Ahmed n.o. 15, Azmatullah Omarzai 2/31, Asitha Fernando 2/38, Promod Madushan 1/41, Fabian Allan 1/26, Tabriz Shamsi 1/29,)

Jaffna Kings 190/3 (18.3 Overs)

(Rilee Rossouw n.o.108, Avishka Fernando 58, Charith Asalanka n.o.11, Dunith Wellalage 1/16, Taskin Ahmed 1/38, Shadab Khan 1/15)