Kandy Tuskers kept their hopes alive of qualifying for the semi-finals while overcoming the Jaffna Stallions by six wickets in their Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 Cricket Tournament second-round match played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota yesterday.
The Tuskers produced a superb bowling performance to skittle out their opponents for a modest 150 and then raced to their target with six wickets and five balls to spare despite going through some anxious moments in the end.
Their run chase was spearheaded by Skipper Kusal Perera who hit a solid 42 in 36 balls inclusive of four boundaries. Thereafter, Asela Gunaratne and Irfan Pathan added the finishing touches in style with an unfinished fifth-wicket stand of 56 runs.
Earlier, some superb seam bowling helped the Stallions dismiss the Tuskers for 150 runs after they had won the toss and elected to bat first.
Dale Steyn made a stunning debut in LPL as he captured the key wicket of opener Avishka Fernando in the second delivery of the innings.
The former South African fast bowler then removed Wanindu Hasaranga in his second 2-over spell to finish with two for 33.
But it was Sri Lankan fast bowler, Nuwan Pradeep who did most of the damage with outstanding figures of three for 36, including the prize scalp of top scorer, Shoaib Malik.
Vishwa Fernando (2/29) and Asela Gunaratne (2/21) also kept the pressure on throughout the innings as the Stallions were bowled out in the last ball of the innings.
However, Malik held the middle order together with a fighting half-century and was eighth-out with the score at 132 after having struck five boundaries and one six.
Malik also added 59 runs for the fourth-wicket along with Minod Bhanuka who made a 22-ball 21 with just a solitary boundary.
Asela Gunaratne ended the threatening partnership by removing Bhanuka in the 14th over and thereafter, the Stallions always struggled to put up a challenging total on the board.
Chief scores:
Jaffna Stallions: 150 in 20 overs (Shoaib Malik 59, Minod Bhanuka 21, Dale Steyn 2/33, Vishwa Fernando 2/29, Nuwan Pradeep 3/36, Asela Gunaratne 2/21)
Kandy Tuskers: 151/4 in 19.1 overs (Kusal Perera 42, Asela Gunaratne 52 n.o, Irfan Pathan 25 n.o, Wanindu Hasaranga 2/23).
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