fullish length ball on the stumps at 120 kph, misses a heave across the line and is hit on the back leg. Big lbw shout upheld. Gunaratne calls for the review with nothing to lose. He's hit in the groin. Has to be going over the top? Nope! He was crouching when contact was made and ball-tracking shows it was clipping the top of the stumps.
If that's not confidence I don't know what is! And why not, the Stallions are top of the table. Three wins from three for Jaffna. That's all from us today. Enjoy the day off tomorrow. We'll be back on Thursday with more coverage from the Lanka Premier League. I'm Peter Della Penna. Take care!
Jaffna Stallions captain and Man of the Match Thisara Perera: "As a batsman I'm really doing hard work so that's why I'm having success. I have a good feeling when I played the last innings. I never think about the last innings and just started a new game today, just thinking about strong areas. I just wanted to hit to my strengths. As a team we did a good job. We struggled a little in the first few overs batting but we recovered really well. I'm really proud of my bowling unit because they stuck to the plans. As a captain I have to take responsibility. That's why I'm doing my job. I think I'm doing my job perfectly. We stick to our plans. That's why we're successful."
Kandy Tuskers captain Kusal Perera: "The first ten overs we dominated the game, but in the middle part Thisara and Dhanajaya batted really well. In that five overs they took the game away. We had a plan but we did not execute it. We had a lot of mistakes in the field and when that happens it becomes really hard to manage. We need to have a discussion about our fielding. Brendan Taylor batted really well but in the first six overs we lose too many wickets. I'm concerned about the fielding. We need to have a serious talk as a team."
11.37 pm Appropriate that the captain Thisara Perera takes the final wicket. He changed the match in the first innings with a roaring knock of 68 off 28 before taking catches everywhere on the field as well as two wickets with the ball. Big moment in the field was Bhanuka's catch in the Powerplay to claim Kusal Perera for one of Shinwari's three wickets and from there the Tuskers offered little fight beyond Taylor's sweeping show. Another impressive win for the Stallions.
knee high full toss on middle, patted back to the bowler.
low full toss on the stumps, driven hard to long-on.
slower ball lands full and wide on sixth stump, misses a swat through the off side.
short on off, goes to pull, thick edge flies over the keeper to the rope.
NOW the last man Munaf enters. Off strike. Gunaratne crossed with the ball in the air. He's on 26.
full on the stumps, tries to heave over midwicket, skies this high over mid-off, Thisara takes a swirling catch on the ring. He's a magnet for the ball in the field is the captain.
short on the legs, pulled flat to deep square leg.
good length ball flicked off the pads.
good length ball nudged out again.
good length ball defended.
Slip in place for Pradeep, second to last man.
Strategic timeout before the second to last man Pradeep enters.
premeditates a reverse sweep and it brings about a wicket. Awful ball, knee high full toss on middle stump. If Naveen stood straight he could have heaved this over midwicket or slammed it straight down the ground. But can't get any momentum off the full bunger and flubs the shot straight to short third man. Simple catch.
floated full on off, defended back to the bowler. The googly.
good length ball on fourth stump, swatted along the ground to deep midwicket.
Last ball mildly spoils a marvelous over from Shinwari.
short ball angled into off, leans back to uppercut ramp this over the keeper, third man is too square on the rope to have any chance.
length ball on fifth stump, swatted along the ground to deep midwicket.
Naveen enters off strike.
it's a bouncer (attempted) yorker combo that works the trick. He targets the base of the stumps but sends down a low full toss at shin height. Dilruwan shovels this off the toe high toward the cover sweeper. Easy catch for Bhanuka five yards in from the rope sliding on his knees to steady himself and cushion the take. If he took that screamer at deep backward square in the Powerplay to dismiss Kusal, no way is he dropping this gentle skier.
bouncer over middle, ducked under. Barely legal on height. Benefit of the doubt goes to the bowler this time.
short on off, flubs a pull into the ground well short of long-on.
good length ball on off, flicked through square leg.
Shinwari is back for the first time since the Powerplay. Around the stumps.
short outside off, slapped through extra cover.
Over 18 • KT 131/10