Sports

Jaffna at the mercy of others in LPL

Published

3 years ago

2023/08/14

Kasun Rajitha was the hero for Galle with a four wicket haul – all top order batters.

Nothing has gone right for Jaffna Kings this season in the Lanka Premier League despite their big purse and some of the finest cricketing talents in the world. In their last league game yesterday at RPS, Jaffna had to win against Galle Titans to stay out of elimination, but it turned out to be an anti-climax.

Jaffna Kings put out probably their worst performance ever since the franchise was formed as they were shot out for 89 and then Galle Titans knocked off the target inside 14 overs with seven wickets in hand.

The heavy loss meant that Jaffna’s Net Run Rate took a severe beating falling down to -0.17.

Currently, Jaffna, Galle and Colombo are all locked on six points each while B-Love Kandy and Dambulla Aura are through to the semis. The problem for Jaffna is that they have got no games left to secure two more points or to make amends to their Net Run Rate. Literally, Jaffna’s fate is now not in their hands.

Colombo Striker’s have got two games left and even a defeat to B Love Kandy in today’s game doesn’t rule them out of the equation.

Tuesday’s game between Galle and Colombo will decide who will go through to the semis and both teams could still make it at the expense of Jaffna. Literally, Little Jonny has a better chance of winning the next General Elections from Kurunegala than Jaffna making it to the semis.

It was Kasun Rajitha, who created havoc yesterday claiming the wickets of four top order batters including Jaffna’s international stars – Rahmanullah Gurbaz, David Miller and Shoaib Malik – all for single figure scores.

Lahiru Kumara returning from injury was equally deadly accounting for two wickets while Tabraiz Shamzi also picked up two wickets.

There was no trouble for Galle Titans during the run chase as Kiwi Tim Seifert smashed a 42-ball 55 to seal the deal to keep their chances of going through to the next stage alive.

Jaffna will be kicking themselves for they have got so much depth in their squad with many experienced and talented campaigners and this was the last thing they would have experienced.

Brief Scores:

Jaffna Kings 89 all out (20)

(Dunith Wellalage 22, Kasun Rajitha 4-20, Lahiru Kumara 2-13, Tabraiz Shamsi 2-19)

Galle Titans 90-3 (13.3) (Tim Seifert 55)

All News Advertisement

Related Topics:Galle Titans Jaffna Kings LPL

Up Next

Royal down Isipatana, but Petes inch closer to ‘crown’ beating Anthonians

Don't Miss

Galle Titans crush defending champs by seven wickets

Click to comment

Sports

Arachchige, Rathnayake and Malinga pump Jaffna

Published

18 mins ago

2026/07/24

Priyan

A 36 ball 63 by Sahan Arachchige and three wickets each by Eshan Malinga [3-13] and Tharindu Rathnayake [3-19] helped Galle Gallants defeat Jaffna Kings by 60 runs in the 10th match of the Lanka Premier League 2026. Galle Gallants lead the points table with three wins from four outings.

Scores:
Galle Gallants 193/8 in 20 overs [Chris Lynn 46, Sahan Arachchige 63, Dasun Shanaka 12, Dinura Kalupahana 10, Mohammad Nawaz 27; Mohamed Shiraz 1-23, Dunith Wellalage 1-13, Shakib Al Hasan 1-27, Dilshan Madushanaka 2-35, Lizaad Williams 2-37]

Jaffna Kings 133 in 17.5 overs [Kamil Mishara 15, Ibrahim Zadran 11, David Weise 22, Dunith Wellalage 56; Dasun Shanaka 1-21, Tharindu Rathnayake 3-19, Akif Javed 1-22, Eshan Malinga 3-13, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 1-32]

Sports

Hermann, Liyanage and Mujeeb steer Colombo Kaps to a 23 run win

Published

38 mins ago

2026/07/24

Priyan

Janith Liyanage scored an unbeaten 52 [LPL]

Half centuries by Rubin Hermann and Janith Liyanage and a three wicket haul by Mujeeb Ur Rahman helped Colombo Kaps defeat Kandy Royals by 24 runs in the 9th match of the Lanka Premier League 2026 played at Dambulla on Thursday [23rd July]’

Scores:
Colombo Kaps 192/9 in 20 overs [Rubin Hermann 53, Sharujan Shanmuganathan 14, Janith Liyanage 52*, James Neesham 24, Binura Fernando 21; Vijay Shankar 1-0, Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-34, Nuwan Thushara 1-31, Moeen Ali 2-31, Dushan Hemantha 2-20]

Kandy Royals 169/8 in 20 overs [Kusal Perera 19, Dale Phillips 38, Vijay Shankar 30, Angelo Mathews 39*, Dushan Hemantha 11*; Shahnawaz Dahani 1-35, Wanuja Sahan 1-24, Mujeeb Ur Rahman 3-34, Malsha Tharupathi 1-29, James Neesham 1-07]

Sports

Sri Lanka edge Qatar in Davis Cup opener

Published

7 hours ago

2026/07/24

Thilina Walpola

Hosts Sri Lanka made a winning start to their Davis Cup Asia/Oceania Group IV campaign, edging out Qatar 2-1 in a closely contested opening-day tie at the Sri Lanka Tennis Association courts in Colombo on Wednesday.

The visitors struck first when Mubarak Alharrasi defeated Sri Lanka’s Apna Perera 6-3, 4-6, 6-2 in a hard-fought opening singles encounter, giving Qatar an early 1-0 lead.

Sri Lanka bounced back in the second singles as Thehan Wijemanne produced a spirited comeback to overcome Mossa Alharrasi 3-6, 6-4, 6-4. After dropping the opening set, Wijemanne showed great composure to win the next two sets and level the tie at 1-1.

The decisive doubles match proved to be a tense affair, with Apna Perera returning to partner Saha Kapilasena. The Sri Lankan duo held their nerve in two tie-breaks to defeat Jabar Al Mutawan and Mossa Alharrasi 7-6, 7-6, sealing the tie 2-1 for the hosts.

Sri Lanka’s ability to recover from the opening singles defeat highlighted the team’s resilience as Wijemanne’s comeback victory and the doubles pair’s clutch performance ensured a successful start to their campaign. The hosts will now look to build on the opening-day victory as they continue their quest for promotion in the Asia/Oceania Group IV competition.