Lanka Premier League 2023: Kandy Eliminated Three-Times Champions Jaffna in the Qualifier In the qualifier, Jaffna Kings won the toss and invited Kandy to bat first. B-Love Kandy have a score of 188, which is unquestionably above average. Fakhar Zaman was dismissed for a duck in the first over after they were given the opportunity to bat. However, Chandimal was the aggressor during the powerplay as Kandy scored 58 runs. By catching Chandimal lbw with his very first ball, Gunaratne ended the fifty-ball partnership. 

 

Hasaranga wasted little time in getting going and hit Gunaratne for back-to-back sixes, but the latter got the last laugh as he dismissed the captain of Kandy with a leggie. There were a few calm overs, but Haris went after Gunaratne and scored a 36-ball fifty by smashing 18 runs off one over. 200 was almost certain when Kandy scored 68 runs in six overs, but Madushanka and Thushara bowled brilliantly. While the latter successfully changed the pace, the former was dependent on yorkers. With Asalanka starting early, Jaffna's pursuit of a huge total got off to a disastrous start. Gurbaz and Lynn had a brief business relationship, but it was terminated when Lynn sold his partner short.

 

Then, Hasaranga gave his team the lead by taking two wickets in a single over, forcing Jaffna to make a comeback. At the wicket, Malik and Miller set to work and put together a fifty-run stand. The Miller-Malik pair blossomed for a brief while, but captain Hasaranga came back to take two more wickets to end Jaffna's hopes. Then, Jaffna's situation just became worse. Although Theekshana and Malik put up some resistance, it was in useless since Hasaranga returned to settle the score and finish with figures of 6–9, which are incidentally the best in LPL history. 

 

Even before Pradeep battled through injury to complete an over, Kandy appeared to be lacking in bowling capabilities with Chameera leaving before the game and Udana stopping after only one over. However, it was their captain who took a strong stance and made sure that it wasn't left up to anyone else. Kandy will face Dambulla in the finals. Stay tuned with us for more Lanka Premier League, cricket live score, and more!