Fernando, Asalanka script thrilling win for Jaffna Kings

By M. Shamil Amit Reporting from Pallekele  

(Daily Mirror) - A maiden ton by Kusal Perera for Dambulla Sixers was in vain as swashbuckling knocks by Avishka Fernando and skipper Charith Asalanka brought back Jaffna Kings from a nowhere position to guide the side to a thrilling last ball win by four wickets in the fourth match of the Lanka Premier League tournament encounter played at the Pallekele Stadium.

This win saw Jaffna Kings having undergone a defeat to Galle Marvels the previous day chalking up their first win of the tournament and Dambulla Sixers undergoing their second successive defeat.   

Jaffna Kings set a daunting task of 192 runs for victory was in dire straits having lost three of their top wickets for 36 in the sixth over. Fernando and Asalanka from thereon did the impossible as they paid scant respect to the Dambulla Sixers’ bowlers whilst ticking the scoreboard with their harsh batting.  

The pair turned  tables as they began accumulating runs with speed and posted the 100 runs in 74 balls while Fernando who was severe being first of the two to reach the half ton in no quick time off 21 balls. They posted the 100 run stand in 55 balls and the 150 in 89 balls before Asalanka raced to his half ton off 34 balls.  

However the separation of the pair after having added 134 runs for the fourth wicket in just 66 balls with the dismissal of Asalanka who made 50 in 36 balls with four boundaries and four sixes saw them falling back as Fernando did not last long having slammed 89 in only 34 balls that included seven boundaries and half a dozen sixes.  

With the score on 177 for 5 in the 18th over and needing a further 15 runs in 18 balls Dhananjaya de Silva got himself out unable to beat the throw whilst sneaking for a run before they sneaked through to a thrilling win with Fabian Allen’s six off Nimesh Vimukthi’s final delivery of the innings.  

Dambulla Sixers invited to take first lease of the wicket after losing their first wicket in the fourth over was guided by opener Kusal Perera who slammed a blistering unbeaten knock of 102 in only 52 balls which was the first century of the tournament that included ten boundaries and five towering sixes.  

Perera shared two fruitful partnerships first of 108 in 63 balls with Nuwanidu Fernando who made 40 in 35 balls with three boundaries and a six. The pair smothered the Jaffna Kings bowling as they put up the 50 runs on the board in 34 balls which followed with Perera racing to his half ton in 31 balls as they continued their run spree and posted the 100 runs of Dambulla Sixers on the board in 69 balls before they were separated with the dismissal of Fernando.  

Perera joined by Mark Chapman continued to torment the Jaffna Kings bowling as they accumulated runs with the minimum of fuss. 
Azmatullah Omarzai’s second over which was the 16th of the innings turned out to be expensive as he was hit for 17 runs and in the process Dambulla Sixers 150 runs too came up.  

The 50 runs partnership of the pair which came off in only 27 deliveries and Perera who reached his ton came simultaneously. Perera raced to his maiden ton having lofted Jason Behrendorff for a six followed by a single, with the ton coming in only 51 balls before Dambulla Sixers innings came to an end having made a imposing score of 191 for 2 with the pair having shared an unbroken 65 runs for the third wicket.  
Kusal’s 100 in 50 balls is the fastest LPL century eclipsing Babar Azam’s 100 in 60 balls.
    

• Chief Scores: 

Dambulla Sixers 191 for 2 in 20 overs (Nuwanidu Fernando 40, Kusal Perera 102 n.o., Mark Chapman 33 n.o.: Dhananjaya de Silva 2/25)  

Jaffna Kings 197 for 6 in 20 overs (Avishka Fernando 80, Charith Asalanka 50, Pathum Nissanka 27: Mustafizur Rahman 2/30, Nuwan Thushara 2/34).  

Pix by : Kushan Pathiraja