Kandy Falcons gained a psychological edge over defending champions Jaffna Kings, retaining their lead at the top of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) points table with a close 10-run win in Pallekele today.

The Falcons completed a group stage sweep of their title rivals, and a win over third placed Colombo Stars tomorrow will guarantee at least a top two finish heading into the playoffs.

Fabien Allen’s 47 off 23 ensured the Falcons finished on a respectable score, having been placed on 79 for 6 in the 14^th over.

The West Indian all-rounder struck four sixes and three boundaries, and put up partnerships of 40 and 32 with Ashen Bandara and Chamika Karunaratne respectively with the Falcons ending on 160 for 8 in their 20 overs.

At the top of the order, fellow West Indian Andre Fletcher hit 35 off 22 balls, but outside of that, the only other batsman to score at a strike rate above 140 was Karunaratne who hammered two sixes in his 18 that came off nine deliveries.

Left-arm spinner Dunith Wellalage was the pick of the Jaffna bowlers, taking 2 for 7 in his four overs.

The returns for leg spinner Vijayakanth Viyaskanth were less flattering however, as he went wicketless for the first time this season and conceding 38 in his four overs.

While the target was certainly not out of the realms of achievability for the Kings’ batting line-up, another West Indian featuring for the Falcons was responsible for derailing Jaffna’s innings.

Carlos Brathwaite added four wickets to his tournament tally, extending this lead at the top of the wicket takers list, giving up 18 runs without conceding a boundary.

He removed Dhananjaya de Silva in his first over, before returning for a second spell in the 14^th over to dismiss Thisara Perera and Dunith Wellalage, to cripple the Kings on 99 for 6.

The dismissal of Sadeera Samarawickrama, who was holding the Kings’ innings together, at the end of the next over effectively ended Jaffna’s hopes of chasing down the target, but their fate was confirmed when Brathwaite came back for his final over and removed James Fuller.

That left the Kings needing 32 off 13, but their tail could manage just 21, restricted to 150 for 9 in their 20 overs.

Falcons’ captain Wanindu Hasaranga was also outstanding, ending with figures of 2 for 21 in four overs.

Chief scores:
Kandy Falcons 160/8 in 20 overs (Fabian Allen 47, Andre Fletcher 35, Ashen Bandara 24, Dunith Wellalage 2 for 7, James Fuller 2 for 28)

Jaffna Kings 150/9 in 20 overs (Sadeera Samarawickrama 48, Avishka Fernando 33, Carlos Brathwaite 4 for 18, Wanindu Hasaranga 2 for 21)