'Arey ek match toh jeetne do'- Twitter reacts as defending champions Jaffna Kings clinch 6th win in 8 matches

Defending champions Jaffna Kings defeated Colombo Stars by 8 wickets in the 19^th match of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2022 on Monday. Kings are currently placed at the second position on the points table whereas Colombo Stars are at the third spot.

After winning the toss, Jaffna Kings captain Thisara Perera invited Colombo Stars to put runs on the scoreboard. The stars had a really bad start as they lost both of their openers without even scoring a single run. They lost 4 wickets for 16 runs and were in trouble. However, Nishan Madushka and Ravi Bopara tried to run the scoreboard but Bopara got out in the 10^th over of the innings.

Madushka's struggling innings also came to an end in the 17^th over. He scored 35 runs off 44 balls including only 1 six at a strike rate of 79.55. Dominic Drakes's fiery knock, in the end, helped Stars to achieve a respectful total of 128 runs after losing 9 wickets in 20 overs. Kings displayed a brilliant bowling performance as every bowler was able to dismiss at least one batter each. Perera and Shoaib Malik took 2 wickets each for their team.

Easy win for the defending champions

Chasing the target of 130 runs, openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Avishka Fernando started aggressively and stitched a 105-run stand for the first wicket. They made the target look even smaller and easy to achieve. Gurbaz' magnificent knock of 69 runs off just 40 deliveries came to an end in the 12^th over. He smashed 8 fours and 4 sixes.

Coming in at no.3, Shoaib Malik failed again as he was dismissed after scoring only 4 runs in the 14^th over of the innings. But it seemed to be very late for the Stars as the target they set for the Kings was already very short and the Kings’ openers made it look too small. Jeffrey Vandersay and Drakes were the only bowlers who were able to dismiss any batter from the opposition. Fernando remained unbeaten on 40 and led the team to victory.

Here’s how people reacted:

Arey Ek match toh jeetne do!#LPLT20 #lpl

— Cricketbugs (@Cricketbugs0) December 19, 2022

. @teamjaffnakings end the league stage of @LPLT20 2nd in the table.

Play offs next. I feel like we'll get a #Jaffna v #Kandy final.. #LPLT20

— Ahamed Nishadh (@ahamednishadh) December 19, 2022

Gurbaz in #LPLT20 Today.

69 Runs
40 Balls
8 Fours
4 Sixes#AmiKKR #IPL2023Auction

— Akash #AmiKKR #IPLAuction (@AkashKkrian) December 19, 2022

Kia hogaya mere king ko? 💔#shoaibmalik #LPLT20 pic.twitter.com/yf0RIcTa8O

— Kifayat Ali (@KiffayatAli) December 19, 2022

@RGurbaz_21 is on fire 🔥🔥
Completes Fifty in just 30 Balls.
Excited to see him in @KKRiders squad. @KkrKaravan @KKRUniverse @KRxtra #KKR #LPLT20 #lpl #IPL2023Auction #IPL pic.twitter.com/FD1Gn4EM9Q

— DeshRaj Meena (@meenadeshraj) December 19, 2022

Colombo Stars : 128/9 (20 ov)
Jaffna Kings : 131/2 (15.5 ov)
Jaffna Kings won by 8 wickets
Player of the match : Rahmanullah Gurbaz (Jaffna Kings)#LPL2022 🏏 pic.twitter.com/9xUP7mTiaw

— Ishara (@Ishara23032) December 19, 2022

Jaffna Kings 131/2 * v Colombo Stars 128/9 #Cricket

— Rob (@mysportscores) December 19, 2022

Record Alert 🚨

Jaffna Kings openers, Avishka Fernando and Rahmanulla Gurbaz scored 105 runs for the 1st wicket in today's match against Colombo Stars

This is the 6th time Avishka was involved in century partnership in LPL & the most by any player. #sportspavilionlk #LPL2022 pic.twitter.com/Wct1duWZfg

— DANUSHKA ARAVINDA (@DanuskaAravinda) December 19, 2022

#LPL2022 CS vs JK:
Jaffna Kings beat Colombo Stars by 8 wickets.
CS - 128/9 & JK - 131/2 in 15.5 overs (Gurbaz 69, Avishka Fernando 40*)
- https://t.co/JglUrbZsVu

— Ada Derana (@adaderana) December 19, 2022