LPL 2022 Qualifier 1, JK vs KF: Defending Champions, Jaffna Kings have once again booked a seat into the finals of LPL by defeating Falcons by 24 runs in Qualifier 1 of the LPL 2022. Falcons will now have to face the winner of the first Eliminator clash in Qualifier 2 in order to book a berth in the Finals of LPL 2022.
Batting first, Kandy Falcons got off to a poor start as they lost Fletcher in the third over of their innings. Nissanka then joined hands with Mendis & the duo smashed Kings bowlers across the park to keep their scoreboard ticking. Nissanka scored 35 runs off 31 balls with five fours while Mendis too contributed by chipping in with 26 runs off 21 balls with three fours. The duo helped Falcons reach the 70-run mark. After their dismissals, Bandara (13 off 13) & Najibullah (22 off 17) then carried forward their innings & helped the Falcons to surpass the 100-run mark. In the end, C Brathwaite (12 off 10) & Karunaratne (14 off 13) carried forward their innings & helped the Falcons to finish at 143 at the end of 20 overs. For Jaffna Kings, Viyaskanth (3-30) & M Theekshana (2-24) starred with the ball.
Chasing the target, Gurbaz & Fernando helped the Kings to get off to a stable start by scoring 27 runs for the first wicket. However, they lost their first wicket with Gurbaz getting dismissed in the first over reducing Kings to 27-1 in 1.5 overs. Avishka Fernando (21) & Afif Hossain (14) stitched a rewarding 35-run stand to help the Kings surpass 50 run mark & did the rebuilding work for the Kings.
LPL 2022 Qualifier 1, JK vs KF: After their dismissals, Samawickrama (15) & Wellalage (19) were trying to anchor the innings before rain played a spoilsport & resulted in the abandoning of the fixture. Jaffna kings ended their innings at 98-3 in 11 overs & as per the DLS method, they won the fixture by 24 runs. For Falcons, Brathwaite starred with the ball by returning with figures of (3-32). Falcons will now face Colombo Stars in the second Qualifier of the LPL 2022 on 22nd December.
