'Babar hee panoti hai' - Fans react as Colombo Strikers suffer defeat by 21 runs against Jaffna Kings in LPL 2023 opener

The Lanka Premier League 2023 got underway on Sunday, July 30 with defending champions Jaffna Kings clashing against the Colombo Strikers in Colombo’s R. Premadasa Stadium. The Strikers won the toss and elected to bowl first. They bowled well to restrict the Kings to 173/5 in 20 overs.

Towhid Hridoy top-scored for the Kings with 54 off 39, including four boundaries and one maximum. Handy contributions by Rahmanullah Gurbaz (21 off 11), Priyamal Perera (22 off 16), and Dunith Wellalage (25* off 23) helped the three-time champions score beyond the 170-mark. Captain Thisara Perera’s quickfire 14* off 7 was crucial as well. As far as Colombo’s bowling is concerned, Naseem Shah, Matheesha Pathirana, Chamika Karunaratne, and Lakshan Sandakan picked up one wicket each.

Vijayakanth Viyaskanth was adjudged the ‘Man of the Match’ Award for his two wickets and two catches

In reply, the home team could only manage 152 in 19.4 overs before being bundled out by the Kings’ bowling attack. Captain Niroshan Dickwella scored a brilliant fifty while opening the innings for them. He scored 58 off 34, including nine boundaries and a maximum, at the strike rate of 170.58. Chamika Karunaratne with 23 off 15 was their second-highest scorer as other batters failed to support their skipper in the chase. In the end, the home team were bowled out at the score of 152 with two balls to spare, giving the Jaffna Kings an opening win by 21 runs.

Talking of the bowling by the three-time champions, Hardus Viljoen remained the pick of the bowlers with figures of 3/31 in four overs. He was closely followed by Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Dilshan Madushanka with 2/17 and 2/18, respectively. Thisara Perera, the Kings' skipper scalped one while conceding 29 runs in three overs. A doubleheader awaits fans on July 31, Monday, in the Lanka Premier League 2023. The first match will see Galle Titans take on the Dambulla Aura while the second match of the day features the B-Love Kandy up against the Colombo Strikers. Fans flooded Twitter with their reactions after Kings' opening win.

Here’s how fans reacted: 

Babar hatao Colombo strikers team bacaho 🤣🤣

— Rimon Sekh (@SekhRimon) July 30, 2023

gobar azam panoti 😂

— karan (@void_sprit_) July 30, 2023

The support the Columbo striker till end

Inshallah strong comeback in the next game

Specially prayer for 👑 Bobby

— Babar Azam56 (@arshadk87) July 30, 2023

Oper ja kar phela Mach hara diya Karachi rota hai abb Colombo ko rula dega

— Ekam Sandhu (@EkamSandhu1981) July 30, 2023

Where's Pakistani there's Bad Luck..Panauti Players

— K (@Neon_Boye0) July 30, 2023

You should be happy that Babar is earning enough from LPL so that he can buy atta for his family.

Statpaddung toh chalti rahegi. Atta is more important

— Jackal (@Jackal05871371) July 30, 2023

Reasons for loss Babar Azam take decesion in field why Sri Lanka not even groom leaders .why they gave a failure captain babar not achieved any major tournament.why they give capacity to him @OfficialSLC

— REYAN ROY (@RAYYANR49862504) July 30, 2023

I blame Babar's statpedding

— Ugma Ram 𝕏 (@ugma_ram_) July 30, 2023