B – Love Kandy advanced to the second Qualifier of the Lanka Premier League 2023 with a thumping 61-run win over Jaffna Kings in the Eliminator today (17th August) at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.
After winning the toss, the Jaffna Kings opted to bowl first and brought in Charith Asalanka for Nishan Madushka. Meanwhile, Team Kandy, made two changes by adding Sahan Arachchige and Kamindu Mendis in place of Ashen Bandara and Chathuranga De Silva.
<<< Dambulla Aura through to their maiden LPL Final >>>
Nuwan Thushara drew first blood for the Kings, cleaning up the dangerous Fakhar Zaman for a second-ball duck in the very first over. Despite the early loss, Dinesh Chandimal and Mohammad Haris inflicted some damage during the powerplay, particularly Chandimal, who went after the bowling, crafting a blistering knock of 41 runs off just 24 balls.
Asela Gunaratne provided the breakthrough, trapping Chandimal in front at the beginning of the 8th over. Gunaratne also secured the prized wicket of Skipper Wanindu Hasaranga after he had smashed two sixes early in the over.
With some minor contributions from the other end, Haris took charge and notched his second fifty of the season, smashing 79 runs off 49 balls, which included 8 fours and 4 sixes. B – Love Kandy seemed well-positioned to breach the 200-run mark, but the Jaffna bowlers regained control in the last two overs.
They conceded only 8 runs while also picking up 3 wickets, causing Kandy to finish at 188/8 after their 20 overs. Nuwan Thushara proved costly with the ball but still managed to claim 4 wickets, while Theekshana and Gunaratne also shared 4 wickets between them.
<<< Shamsi, Croospulle take Galle Titans to the play-offs >>>
Facing a sizeable target to stay in contention for their 4th title, the Jaffna Kings deployed a different opening combination, featuring Chris Lynn and Charith Asalanka, but it did not bring them success as Afghan mystery spinner, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, claimed the first wicket, sending Asalanka back to the dressing room in the 2nd over.
After a brisk start, Rahmanullah Gurbaz squandered it by running himself out for 19 after a mixup with Lynn. Skipper Hasaranga joined the party and dismissed Dunith Wellalage, thanks to a stunning diving catch by Kamindu Mendis.
David Miller became Hasaranga’s second victim when he was bowled for 26. The veteran Shoaib Malik (31 off 23) stood out as the only bright spot of the innings, as the defending champions never truly recovered from the flurry of wickets. Hasaranga recorded the best-ever bowling figures in LPL history, scalping 6/9, as the Kings were bundled out for 127 in 17.2 overs.
With yet another brilliant all-round performance, Kandy Captain Hasaranga secured the Player of the Match award. B – Love Kandy is set to face Galle Titans in the second Qualifier match on Saturday (19th), and the winner will then challenge Dambulla Aura in the LPL 2023 Final on Sunday, 20th August.
Catch all the live action from the Lanka Premier League 2023 on Sri Lanka’s No.1 Sports Hub – ThePapare.com.
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mohammad Haris | st Rahmanullah Gurbaz b Maheesh Theekshana | 79 | 7 | 8 | 4 | 999.99 |
| Fakhar Zaman | b Nuwan Thushara | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Dinesh Chandimal | lbw b Asela Gunaratne | 41 | 24 | 6 | 1 | 170.83 |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | b Asela Gunaratne | 19 | 11 | 0 | 2 | 172.73 |
| Kamindu Mendis | b Maheesh Theekshana | 17 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 130.77 |
| Asif Ali | c David Miller b Nuwan Thushara | 15 | 13 | 0 | 1 | 115.38 |
| Angelo Mathews | c Thisara Perera b Nuwan Thushara | 7 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 140.00 |
| Sahan Arachchige | not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Isuru Udana | c Dunith Wellalage b Nuwan Thushara | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 7 (b 0 , lb 2 , nb 0, w 5, pen 0) |
| Total | 188/8 (20 Overs, RR: 9.4) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nuwan Thushara | 4 | 0 | 40 | 4 | 10.00 | |
| Maheesh Theekshana | 4 | 0 | 37 | 2 | 9.25 | |
| Dilshan Madushanka | 4 | 0 | 43 | 0 | 10.75 | |
| Dunith Wellalage | 4 | 0 | 25 | 0 | 6.25 | |
| Asela Gunaratne | 4 | 0 | 41 | 2 | 10.25 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chris Lynn | lbw b Wanindu Hasaranga | 19 | 19 | 3 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Asif Ali b Mujeeb ur Rahman | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 16.67 |
| Rahmanullah Gurbaz | run out (Mohammad Haris) | 19 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 190.00 |
| Dunith Wellalage | c Kamindu Mendis b Wanindu Hasaranga | 3 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 60.00 |
| Shoaib Malik | c Angelo Mathews b Nuwan Pradeep | 31 | 23 | 3 | 1 | 134.78 |
| David Miller | b Wanindu Hasaranga | 26 | 20 | 0 | 2 | 130.00 |
| Asela Gunaratne | lbw b Wanindu Hasaranga | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Thisara Perera | b Sahan Arachchige | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Maheesh Theekshana | c Sahan Arachchige b Wanindu Hasaranga | 15 | 14 | 3 | 0 | 107.14 |
| Dilshan Madushanka | not out | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Nuwan Thushara | c Lahiru Madushanka b Wanindu Hasaranga | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 13 (b 0 , lb 1 , nb 1, w 11, pen 0) |
| Total | 127/10 (17.2 Overs, RR: 7.33) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Angelo Mathews | 3 | 0 | 23 | 0 | 7.67 | |
| Mujeeb ur Rahman | 4 | 0 | 45 | 1 | 11.25 | |
| Isuru Udana | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2.00 | |
| Wanindu Hasaranga | 3.2 | 0 | 9 | 6 | 2.81 | |
| Sahan Arachchige | 3 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 7.67 | |
| Nuwan Pradeep | 3 | 0 | 24 | 1 | 8.00 | |
<<< Lanka Premier League 2023 >>>
 at R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo.){kind=link}