COLOMBO: Right-arm pacer Kasun Rajitha’s four-for led Galle Titans to register a thumping seven-wicket victory over Jaffna Kings in the 17th game of the ongoing Lanka Premier League (LPL) on Sunday.
Opting to bat first, Jaffna Kings lost their first wicket on the third ball as Rajitha sent attacking opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz back to the pavilion.
The defending champions soon slumped to 7-4 as they lost three wickets within eight deliveries.
This opened the floodgates as Kings fell into the abyss with wickets crumbling at regular intervals.
Dunith Wellalage anchored through the innings with 22 runs off 31 balls amid chaos on the other end as he kept losing partners.
Only three players, other than Wellalage managed to reach double figures and Jaffna Kings were consequently bundled out for a meagre 89 runs.
Rajitha led the bowling attack for Galle Titans, picking up four wickets for 20 runs, while Tabraiz Shamsi and Lahiru Kumara chipped in with two wickets each.
Galle Titans started the chase strongly as they swiftly raced to 33 runs off four overs before Bhanuka Rajapaksa was caught by Shoaib Malik off Maheesh Theekshana.
Tim Seifert then led the chase and carved a sensible 51-ball partnership with Chad Bowes off 48 deliveries to lead his team to 84-1 in 12 overs.
With only, six runs needed, Seifart attempted to finish things in style however he was caught at short cover by Perera off Madushanka.
His 42-ball 55 featured five boundaries and one six.
Captain Dasun Shanaka hit the winning runs in the next over, as Galle Titans comfortably chased the total with 39 balls remaining.
Galle Titans are placed at number four in the LPL points table below third-ranked Jaffna Kings, due to net run rate difference.
However, Galle Titans have one more game to play in the LPL against Colombo Strikers on August 15, while Jaffna Kings have played all their group-stage games in the current LPL.
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