Jaffna Kings beat Kandy Royals by 21 runs at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Thursday night to record a third consecutive win and move to the top of the Lanka Premier League points table.
Batting first in the tournament’s 18th match, the Kings posted 221 for 6. Kamil Mishara struck 49 from 26 balls and Avishka Fernando made 36 from 22 in an opening stand of 95 inside 7.3 overs. The innings was finished off by Chamindu Wickramasinghe, whose 43 came from just 15 deliveries with three fours and four sixes, while Shakib Al Hasan was unbeaten on 22.
Wanindu Hasaranga and Moeen Ali took two wickets each for Kandy, conceding 37 and 38 runs respectively.
The Royals began the chase quickly. Pawan Sandesh made 48 from 21 balls and Lahiru Udara 30 from 15, taking the score to 91 for 1 inside the eighth over. The required rate climbed as wickets fell, and Dunith Wellalage turned the match with a spell of 3 for 11 from two overs, removing Dale Phillips, Shaheen Shah Afridi and Dushan Hemantha.
Shakib Al Hasan finished with 3 for 43, Zahoor Khan took 2 for 32 and Dilshan Madushanka 2 for 36, the last of them a wicket-maiden that ended the innings. Kandy were bowled out for exactly 200 off the final ball, with Vijay Shankar making 25 and Hasaranga 24.
Wickramasinghe was named Player of the Match for his innings and two catches.
Context
The result continues a strong run for a team whose off-field position changed sharply this season. The LPL terminated the Jaffna Kings franchise agreement in late July over alleged breaches of anti-corruption and integrity provisions, after the arrest of a co-owner in a match-fixing investigation. Sri Lanka Cricket and event rights partner Innovative Production Group took direct financial and operational control of the team, which has continued under the same name with its existing squad and coaching staff.