Astounding to see a difficult stroke played with such nonchalance, a reverse sweep over point does the job for Dambulla - they have outgunned the defending champions in an emphatic style!
Jaffna vs Aura, 4th Match at Colombo, LPL, Aug 01 2023 - Ball by Ball Commentary
Aura won by 8 wickets (with 22 balls remaining)
This was a professional showing from Dambulla who have now got the first points on the board. It's a strong comeback after losing yesterday's encounter against Galle Titans in the Super Over. Kusal Mendis-led side weren't made to sweat by a subpar Jaffna's batting display and were clinical in all departments of the game. On that note, from myself, Rvel Zahid, and our scorer Chetan Kumar, it's cheerio for now.
Thisara Perera, Jaffna Kings Captain: It happens in cricket. We will learn from this wicket. We were at like 60/1 at the end of 10 overs but we couldn't execute our plans. I think our bowling is very strong but we will have a discussion about our batting.
Kusal Mendis, Dambulla Aura Captain: We had a chat about what we need to do today, pick up on where we left off yesterday...this pitch was a lot slower
Dilruk Kannanga: "What Avishka Fernando said : "This is the same wicket as yesterday. Ball is turning much though. Yes. Last 3 seasons I played for Jaffna Kings. When I am given opportunity to bat, I use that chance to the fullest "
"What Kusal Mendis said : "As batters, we expect better wickets than these. We get good wickets to bat in international matches. Even for our bowlers, to bowl in good batting wickets and improve themselves good wickets are necessary" Thank you Dilruk for the translation!
Stick around for the presentation ceremony
Jaffna Kings, to put it bluntly, had no answers with the ball and struggled big time with the bat on this track that was conducive to spin bowling yet Dambulla showed how to thrive on this tricky surface and runs were coming thick and fast for them. Fernando, the star of the show, was severe on the bowlers from the get-go and thumped a well-orchestrated fifty that broke the back of the chase. Thereon, Perera made sure there were no hiccups in this low-scoring game as he remained unbeaten on 34 and guided his team to the doorstep of victory.
Earlier, even the likes of Miller and Hridoy struggled for Jaffna as the innings remained on the simmer without quite coming to boil. However, take no credit away from bowlers who punctured them on regular intervals and put relentless pressure
Anon: "Kusal Perera is showing that he is the man to include SL squad in every format. Why the selectors cannot understand that. "
So just one hit away from a convincing win. Lobbed up fuller on the pads, maneuvered to the leg side
Asantha Karunar: "I'm watching LPL only because of Kusal Janith Perera. I wanna see him playing, that's it.."
Reef: "Are the teams batting on two separate pitches? " Looks that way
Steps away to the on side and punches it on the rise to cover-point, expertly done and it's time for another strategic timeout
Flicked to the leg side but can't beat the fielder at short midwicket
There were two sounds, might have got an inside-edge. Loopy delivery and a little fuller than the previous one, replay shows thick inside edge onto the pads
Fuller and angling it in from outside off, gets behind and dead bats it
They have been very clinical in this run-case, rotation of strike has been one key difference. Lobbed up on a length from round the wicket, lunges forward and smothers the spin with a forward press
Springs down the track and parries it to long-on
Backs away to open up the off-side field and clatters this off the backfoot to deep point. Nicely done
Smites powerfully into the covers and scurries back for the second run
Tossed up on a length and spinning away viciously outside off and bounces steeply, not much you can do as a batter and he just leaves it alone
Slices it away off the backfoot to backward point
Lobbed up fuller on middle, gets behind and blocks it to the leg side
Clipped to midwicket's left and jobs through a run, they are making it look ridiculously easy
Very slow through the air on off, he arches out and blocks it towards vacant cover-point region
Tossed up on middle, nudged away using his subtle wrists towards square leg's right
Bunted to cover-point and pinches a run
Slaughtered over deep backward square! Shorter delivery on the pads, plants his back leg and absolutely woofs it away, almost got a six
Length and angling in from outside off, makes room and cuts it to point who came charging in, was cramped for room
Round the wicket, speared to the toes, he puts on the dancing shoes and smites it all along the carpet into the real estate at cow corner
Over 17 • DBA 132/2
Aura won by 8 wickets (with 22 balls remaining)