DAMBULLA: Pathum Nissanka and Avishka Fernando scored half-centuries before a combined bowling effort led Jaffna Kings to a comfortable 30-run victory over Dambulla Sixers in the eighth match of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2024.
Chasing a mammoth total of 219, the Sixers managed 188/8 in the allotted 20 overs despite Reeza Hendrick’s gutsy half-century.
The opening batter looked in control and dominated the Kings’ bowlers from the word go but the lack of support from the other end resulted in his efforts going in vain.
Hendricks carried his bat till the 18th over and scored 80 off just 50 deliveries, laced up with a dozen boundaries including three sixes.
Besides him, New Zealand international Mark Chapman had a notable contribution for the Sixers with a 17-ball 30 while Chamindu Wickramasinghe made an unbeaten 20.
Tabraiz Shamsi, Asitha Fernando and Pramod Madushan bagged two wickets each for the Kings while Azmatullah Omarzai and Fabian Allen picked one apiece.
Earlier, Nissanka and Fernando scored brisk half-centuries as Jaffna Kings finished at 218/5 after being put into bat.
Nissanka came out all guns blazing and hit the Sixers’ bowlers all around the ground. He smashed nine fours and four sixes on his way to a 53-ball 88.
Pathum Nissanka, alongside Fernando, recovered the Kings from 62/2 in 7.4 overs to 162/3 in 16.4 overs.
Meanwhile, Fernando batted until the final over and walked back after scoring 57 in 30 balls, hitting three fours and five sixes.
Later, Azmatullah Omarzai (19*) and skipper Charith Assalanka (13) made vital contributions with brisk cameos.
Mustafizur Rahman was the pick of the bowlers for the Sixers with two wickets, followed by Chamindu Wickramasinghe, Dushan Hemantha and Nuwan Thushara, who shared three wickets between them.
The 30-run victory powered Jaffna Kings to the top of the LPL 2024 standings with six points in four matches while Dambulla Sixers remained at the bottom after being winless in three matches.
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