Evans slams first ton as Colombo prevail with close win

By M. Shamil Amit

Opener, Laurie Evans had the honour of slamming the first century of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 Cricket Tournament when he made an unbeaten 108 in just 65 balls which paved the way for Colombo Kings to record a close six-run win over Jaffna Stallions in the 18th match, played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in 
Hambantota yesterday.

This victory also helped the Kings to chalk-up their fifth win in the tournament and to move up into the second place in the points table.

The Stallions, chasing 174 runs for victory lost two quick wickets with the score on 125 that of Skipper, Thisara Perera and Shoaib Malik and despite an unbroken partnership of 42 runs for the seventh-wicket between Wanindu Hasaranga and Suranga Lakmal the Stallions were able to end with a score of 167 runs.

Earlier, Colombo Kings invited to take first lease of the wicket were helped by a fine unbeaten knock of 108 by opener Evans who became the first batsman to make a century in the tournament.

Evans’ knock came off just 65 balls, comprised nine boundaries and five sixes and batted throughout the innings. In the process, he was involved in three useful partnerships.

He put on 35 for the second-wicket with Bell-Drummond followed by an 84-run stand for the third-wicket with Skipper Angelo Mathews and 36 runs for the fourth-wicket with Andre Russell, which helped them end with a challenging score of 173 runs.