Avishka shines as Jaffna Stallions continue winning streak

M. Shamil Amit

Opener Avishka Fernando produced another sterling batting performance as he single handedly guided Jaffna Stallions to a comfortable five-wicket win over the Galle Gladiators in the ninth match of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 Cricket Tournament at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota yesterday.

Fernando slammed a cameo style knock of 84 in just 59 balls that included seven boundaries and five sixes.

In the process, he associated in a match winning second-wicket partnership of 99 runs with Minod Bhanuka in only 63 balls, paving the for the Stallions to record their fourth successive win and to maintain their unbeaten record.

The Stallions, in pursuit of 171 runs for victory lost three early wickets including that of Skipper Thisara Perera who has been in tremendous form with the bat.

However, the top scorer Avishka and Shoaib Malik along with Wanindu Hasaranga made useful contributions as they steered the side to victory with two balls to spare.

Earlier, the Gladiators taking first lease of the wicket were given a solid start by their openers, Danushka Gunathilaka and Ahsan Ali.

The pair put on 67 runs in 51 balls before spinner, Hasaranga made the breakthrough for the Stallions while claiming Ali’s wicket.

Thereafter, Gunathilaka and Azam Khan put on a valuable 43 runs for the second wicket before Hasaranga struck once again with the wicket of Gunathilaka who made a 44-ball knock of 56.

The Gladiators lost two quick wickets for the addition of just eight runs before a brief 34-run stand for the fifth-wicket between Chadwick Walton and Shehan Jayasuriya helped them end with a challenging score of 170 for six which proved to be insufficient to defend.

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