Bhathiya Barukanda
Jaffna Kings Afghanistan star Azmatullah Omarzai blazed 35 off 13 balls in a super 2 for 33 all-round Player of the Match display to impale Galle Marvels New Zealander Tim Seifert’s century effort in a 5-wicket triumph with two balls to spare on a faster canter in a threesome lashing – South African Rilee Rossouw top score 67 off 42 in 8 boundaries and 3 over the top, and Kusal Mendis 30 off 16 (5×4) adding to that ultimate difference did insulate the Kings at the top of the points table of a faster Net Run Rate with both sides tied on the same points in the 6th Lanka Premier League contest at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Seifert’s unbeaten 104 off 63 was exhilarated in the high of 6 over the top and 12 boundaries, but the fast fad short format game did signify such is the gung-ho nature to even blowing away the magical as dictated by Omarzai and company.
As Omarzai was to voice in the Player of the Match glee that the Kings reveled in Galle Marvels handicap short of a specialist bowler did as much tilt the scales against them.
Galle Marvel’s 187 for 5 off 20 was challenging with next best’s from Bhanuka Rajapaksa 28 off 21 (2×4, 1×6) and Alex Hales 23 off 19 (3×4, 1×6). But T20 cricket’s dictates are such that he who does it faster is the winner as proved by the ultimate winners in that king sizdd finish of 191 for 5 with 2 balls to spare with Omarzai dispatching Sahan Arachchige in that winning hit to the boundary.
CHIEF SCORES:
Galle Marvels 185/5 (20 Overs) RR: 9.35
(Tim Seifert n.o. 104, Alex Hales 23, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 28, Niroshan Dickwella 12, Azmatullah Omarzai 2/33, Pramod Madushan 1/36, Fabian Allen 1/42)
Jaffna Kings 191/5 (19.4 Overs) RR:9.71
(Rilee Rossouw 67, Kusal Mendis 30, Amatullah Omarzai n.o. 35, Avishka Fernando 14, Pathum Nissanka 12, Zahoor Khan 2/33, Maheesh Theekshana 1/29, Dwaine Pretorius 1/34, Isuru Udana 1/42)
Sources – sl cricket,com
