Bravo Jaffna Stallions and Kudos to Sri Lanka Cricket for pulling this off. The LPL has winners and losers as expected. But in a dramatic way Covid 19 was the biggest loser as the virus had designs to snuff out the tournament.
Of course the biggest winner was the Jaffna Stallions admirably and intelligently led by all rounder Thisara Perera -- the first team to engrave their name on the Premier League trophy. They outclassed the Galle Gladiators by 53 runs in a lackluster final at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium in a day/nighter on Wednesday.
Once Perera decided right to bat first after winning the toss and their first six batsmen reached double figures with Sohaib Malik top scoring with 46 to make 188 for six in 20, the Stallions were on sure footing. Then as the Gladiators came into battle they lost their heavy scoring batsman Dhanushka Gunathilaka run out for one and the game was good as over. The Stallions romped home easily.
In the first semi-final favorites Colombo Kings were made to look ordinary when the Galle Gladiators although taking the field as second, undaunted played the better cricket to push aside Colombo Kings and enter the final.
Before the game Colombo Kings suffered a great blow when it was known that Laurie Evans the only century maker in the tournament would not be in the playing eleven having suffered a tummy injury. It was a great setback as it weakened the CK batting.
In the game against Jaffna Stallions the British hard hitting right hander slammed a scintillating unbeaten 108 in 56 deliveries which included five sixes and nine hits to the fence. When it was known that Evans was not playing the Galle Gladiators would sure have heaved a sigh of relief and also given them more confidence.
Colombo Kings batting first failed to live up to their reputation as kings. They were dethroned by the Galle Gladiators who played the better cricket to earn a semi-final berth.
In the absence of Evans, Daniel Bell-Drummond from Kent made merry to make a grand 70 from 53 balls with three sixes and seven fours to help his side make 150 for 9 in the 20 overs.
Left arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan who is always a danger when bowling with his many mystery deliveries that are difficult to read returned the best figures of 3 for 32 in four to restrict the opponents.
When the Galle Gladiators chased, all their outstanding strikers made useful contributions – Bhanuka Rajapakse 33, Azam Khan 21, Shehan Jayasuriya 22 and Dhananjaya Lakshan with a well made unbeaten 31 – saw their side cross the line making 151 for 8 in 19.5 overs. It was an exciting game and Galle deserved to win.
In the second semi-final Jaffna Stallions cantered home to an easy victory over Dambulla Vikings by 37 runs to book their berth in the final against Galle Gladiators.
Asked to bat Jaffna Stallion openers Johnson Charles and Avishka Fernando riding on the luck of dropped catches gave their side a rollicking start hoisting 68 for the first wicket to give the batsmen following a platform to build on.
After the dismissal of Fernando for 39 in 26 balls with two fours and four sixes the rot set in. The Stallions lost four quick wickets including Johnson Charles for a hard hit 76 in 56 balls and Shoaib Malik for one. They finally made 165 for nine in 20 overs which did not look a formidable score.
But when the Vikings began the chase they lost wickets regularly and the victory target seemed a tough one as they folded up for just 128 to concede victory. There’s nothing much to write about the Vikings batting as they folded up timidly.
Despite the challenges faced, there is much to look forward to in the LPL’s in the coming years.
After much uncertainty between Sri Lanka Cricket and their counterparts in South Africa, the good news to come is that the Sri Lanka team’s tour to South Africa for Two Test matches this month will be a reality.
Sri Lanka’s captain Dimuth Karunaratne who could not find a place in any of the five teams that played in the Lankan Premier League, will have to face a new South African captain in left handed dasher Quinton de Koch who has taken over from Faf du Plessis. De Koch had a successful run with the bat in the recent Indian Premier League in the UAE.
With the covid-19 hovering around in South Africa, England who were there to play the established game had to call off the tour when a South African player was tested positive for the much feared disease.
This is not the first time that England had to call off a tour. The Brits were here in January readying to play Sri Lanka when the covid-19 broke out threateningly and mid way during a practice game had to call off the tour and fly back.
That was great disappointment for all cricketers and sports lovers in the country who were looking forward to seeing Joe Root’s English cricketers in action, especially Ben Stokes after his Ashes heroics against Australia where he slammed an unbeaten match saving and Ashes equaling century in the final Test.
While it is heartening to note that the South Africans will host the Lankans to Two Tests with the first now on in J’burgh, England have also confirmed that they would honour their tour to the island which was called off in January.
But the Lankan cricketers and fans will not have the opportunity of seeing Ben Stokes and his all round heroics because of his father’s untimely death. England have also left out the ‘black express Jofra Archer from their team to Sri Lanka.