Seifert, Liyanage steer Galle Marvels to LPL final

By: M. Shamil Amit

(Daily Mirror) - Half centuries by Tim Seifert and Janith Liyanage helped Galle Marvels secure their place in the final with a comfortable seven-wicket win over Jaffna Kings in the Qualifier 1 of the fifth Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 Cricket Tournament played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

Seifert cracked an unbeaten 62 in 41 balls which included nine boundaries and a six while Liyanage hit a 36-ball 56 that included five boundaries and three sixes.

Seifert had earlier shared a 41-run stand for the second wicket with Alex Hales, who made 36 in 21 balls with five boundaries and two sixes and then put on a match-winning stand of 92 runs for the second wicket in 62 balls, which laid the foundation for their victory.

It was sweet revenge for Galle Marvels who were beaten in the first two finals of the LPL. Galle Marvels will now meet the winner of the Qualifier 2 match on July 20.

Jaffna Kings invited to take first lease of the wicket saw opener Pathum Nissanka being dismissed early as he lasted only four balls for his four runs as they lost the first wicket with 11 runs on the board in the third over.

Kusal Mendis joined by Rilee Rossouw helped Jaffna Kings recover as they steadied the innings with a 50-run stand off 37 balls.

Isuru Udana made the breakthrough for Galle Marvels with the wicket of Rossouw who was unfortunate to miss out on his half century but made a useful contribution of 40 in 22 balls which had four boundaries and three sixes.

Mendis found another reliable partner in Avishka Fernando and the pair put up the 100 runs on the board. Mendis was also unfortunate to miss out on his half century as he fell victim to spinner Prabath Jayasuriya having made 46 in 39 balls with four boundaries and a six.

Fernando and Skipper Charith Asalanka shared a brief stand of 22 runs for the fourth wicket. Jaffna Kings’ 150 runs came up in 106 balls before Fernando reached his half century in 32 balls which had four boundaries and three sixes.

• Chief scores:

Jaffna Kings: 177/7 in 20 overs (Avishka Fernando 52, Kusal Mendis 46, Rilee Rossouw 40, Dwaine Pretorius 4/23, Isuru Udana 2/37)

Galle Marvels: 181/3 in 18.1 overs (Janith Liyanage 56, Alex Hakes 36, Tim Seifert 62 n.o). 

PIx by: Pradeep Dilrukshana