In a fitting conclusion to a season where they seemed the best side, Jaffna Stallions became the Lanka Premier League champions after defeating Galle Gladiators by a comfortable margin of 53 runs. The star of the show was Man of the Match Shoaib Malik whose 46 off 35 with the bat was backed up with figures of 2/13 in three overs to power his team to victory.
The Stallions won the toss and elected to bat first in Hambantota. They posted a highly competitive 188/6 in their 20 overs. Malik was the top scorer but there was also help from captain Thisara Perera who, in his usual style, played a dazzling cameo of 39* off just 14 balls.
The platform was well laid by the openers Avishka Fernando and West Indian Johnson Charles. The former scored 27 while Charles chipped in with a quickfire 26. The first-wicket partnership produced 44 runs in a mere 4.4 overs. Dhananjaya de Silva's 33 off 20 balls at no. 5 was also a valuable contribution.
All the Gladiators' bowlers went at an economy rate of 9 or more runs per over. Dhananjaya Lakshan was the most successful with three wickets.
In reply, the Galle team suffered a top-order collapse with all their top-3 batsmen out for single-digit scores. The team was reduced to 3/7 in the second over, effectively ending their chances of winnign the match.
Some resistance came from the no. 4 batsman and captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa who smashed 40 off just 17 balls with four sixes. Wicketkeeper Azam Khan also played a cameo of 36 in 17 balls with four sixes. But these two sparkling knocks were mere flickers in the larger scheme of things. The rest of the batting line-up crumbled.
Apart from Malik, parsimonious spells were also bowled by Suranga Lakmal - 1/12 off three overs - and Wanindu Hasaranga - 1/18 in four overs. Hasaranga was also declared Player of the Tournament.
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