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Player of the Match, Sahan Arachchige: "I think I had some luck in that over [34-runs] when I tried to go big. We had three overs to go and not much on the board. [Target score] We were losing wickets, so my plan with Nawaz was to take the game deep, until about the 17th over. After that, we needed a big over. Actually, our target was around 180 to 185, but with a bit of luck, we achieved 194."
Bhanuka Rajapaksa: "[Four dropped catches] Yeah, it's a bit difficult because I think, as you said, until the 17th over, we were very well in control of the game. But these things happen, and we just need to learn from the mistakes that we made. It is a long tournament, so we can't keep repeating them. [Momentum shift during the innings break] I think everyone should believe in momentum. Credit should go to the opposition batters who scored about 80 runs in the last four overs. When the momentum shifts towards the opposition, it is very difficult to gather it back. As I said before, hopefully we learn from it and look forward to the next game."
Akindu: "Kings are gonna be in a bad place NRR-wise if they're not careful"
11 pm A commanding victory with a massive boost in the NRR for the Gallants. The Jaffna Kings never looked comfortable during their chase, even though the Gallants dropped chances and leaked runs for fun. Avishka Fernando was put down on naught by Viyaskanth, but it didn't cost them much as the opener threw his wicket away in the very same over. Ratnayake then landed a double blow in the third over, removing Mishara and Shakib off consecutive deliveries. The misfield show continued for the Gallants as well, gifting away far too many singles and boundaries. With four wickets down inside the powerplay, the batting collapse only continued for the Kings as they lost Zadran right after the fielding restrictions lifted. Wiese and Wellalage offered a brief glimmer of hope with a 39-run stand, but Wiese was caught at long off against Ratnayake in the 11th over. Wellalage effectively played a lone hand, bringing up a 37-ball fifty before becoming the last batter to fall for a valiant 56 off 39. Malinga and Ratnayake did the bulk of the damage, taking three wickets apiece to seal a dominant win.
Galle Gallants won by 60 runs
DN Wellalage c Akif Javed b Viyaskanth 56 (56m 39b 4x4 4x6) SR: 143.58
Viyaskanth returns to the attack
END OF OVER:17 | 6 Runs | JK: 121/8 (73 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 7.11, RRR: 24.33)
- Dilshan Madushanka4 (11b)
- Dunith Wellalage44 (34b)
- Akif Javed4-0-22-1
- Eshan Malinga3-0-13-3