Rossouw steers Jaffna Kings to emphatic win

By M. Shamil Amit reporting from Dambulla

Rilee Rossouw struck a magnificent unbeaten century and Avishka Fernando hammered 58 as the Jaffna Kings cruised to an emphatic seven-wicket victory over Colombo Strikers in their Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 Cricket Tournament 13th match played at the Dambulla Stadium yesterday.

The table leaders produced a superb batting display and chased down their opponents’ total of 188 for eight in style before recording their fourth win of the tournament in their sixth outing.

Rossouw and Fernando came into the crease at a vital stage after the Jaffna Kings had lost both openers Pathum Nissanka and Kusal Mendis cheaply.

The pair got their act together well beautifully and went on to complete their mission while putting on 120 runs from just 10 overs.

Rossouw showed no signs of any pressure as he took the game away from the Colombo Strikers with a magnificent innings, which included six sixes and a dozen of boundaries.

Earlier, Colombo Strikers posted 188 for eight from their 20 overs, thanks to a splendid half century from middle-order batsman Glen Phillips.

The 27-year-old dashing right-hander from South Africa hammered 58 from just 32 deliveries with the aid of three sixes and half a dozen of boundaries.

This was after the openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz (27) and Angelo Perera (34) had provided Colombo Strikers a decent start to their innings after they were invited to bat first.

Phillips coming into bat at number three took over the main role and blasted the bowlers to all corners of the ground while adding 86 runs for the second wicket with Perera, who was unfortunately forced to retire, hurt in the 12th over with a concussion.

Thereafter, Nipun Dhananjaya replaced Perera as a concussion substitute during the 15th over of the Colombo Strikers innings.

Phillips raced to his half century from 26 balls inclusive of three sixes and six boundaries as the Colombo Strikers reached their 100 runs from 10.1 overs.

But after his dismissal in the 15th over the runs dried out as the second poweplay produced only 12 runs for the Colombo Strikers, who also lost two key wickets in that period.

Azmatullah Omarzai and Asitha Fernando captured two wickets each to bring the Jaffna Kings back into the game before the tailenders Dunith Wellalage and Taskin Ahmed carried Colombo Strikers to a formidable total.

• Chief scores:

Colombo Strikers: 188/8 in 20 overs (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 27, Angelo Perera 34 retired hurt, Glenn Phillips 58, Azmatullah Omarzai 2/31, Asitha Fernando 2/38)

Jaffna Kings: 190/3 in 18.3 overs (Rilee Rossouw 108 n.o, Avishka Fernando 58).