The eighth encounter of the Lanka Premier League 2022 took place between defending champions Jaffna Kings and Dambulla Aura. The Kings broke the record for the highest ever total in LPL history after scoring 240 runs and beating Aura by 51 runs.
Dambulla Aura are yet to register a single win after three games.
Aura skipper Dasun Shanaka won the toss and elected to field first. He regretted his decision as the Kings’ opening pair Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Avishka Fernando took the Aura bowling attack to the cleaners.
The pair scored 73 runs in the powerplay with the Afghan batter reaching his half ton in just 20 deliveries. Fernando continued his good run bringing up another half century in 27 balls. The pair added 133 runs in 64 balls for the first wicket but both of them fell in quick succession.
The baton was then passed on to Sadeera Samarawickrama, who notched up 38 runs off 22 deliveries. He found good support from Shoaib Malik, who scored 32 from 15. The Kings went on to post a mammoth 240 in their 20 overs to post the highest-ever total in LPL history. The Aura bowlers went for plenty while Lahiru Kumara managed to pick 2 wickets for 56 runs in his four overs.
Chasing a mammoth target of 241, Aura got off to a quick start through Shevon Daniel. The left-handed teenage prodigy took the game on and scored a stunning 29 off 20 balls. Bhanuka Rajapaksha tried to clear the boundary on several occasions but he struggled to find the fence. His off-color innings of 38 came off in 31 deliveries, which didn’t help the cause for Aura. Skipper Shanaka was striking the ball but his 44 off 23 wasn’t enough to get near the target.
Aura ultimately managed only 189 runs after losing 8 wickets. Binura Fernando was the pick of the bowlers with figures of 4 wickets for 22 runs. Playing in his first game of the tournament, leg spinner Suminda Lakshan picked 2 wickets for 50 runs.
Brief Scores
Jaffna Kings – 240/4 in 20 overs
Rahmanullah Gurbaz 73, Avishka Fernando 54, Sadeera Samarawickrama 38, Shoaib Malik 32, Lahiru Kumara 2/56, Dushan Hemantha 1/44
Dambulla Aura – 189/8 in 20 overs
Dasun Shanaka 44, Bhanuka Rajapaksha 38, Shevon Daniel 29, Binura Fernando 4/22, Suminda Lakshan 2/50
