Lanka Premier League 2023
‘Itna chota total bhi defend karliya’ – Fans react as Dambulla Aura win by nine runs against Jaffna Kings in LPL 2023
Dambulla Aura won by 9 runs against Jaffna Kings during the 11th match of the Lanka Premier League 2023. Earlier, Jaffna Kings skipper Thisara Perera won the toss and invited Dambulla Aura to bat first. Notably, after being put to bat first, they had a miserable start as their openers, Avishka Fernando and Kusal Mendis, both just departed without scoring any runs. Later, following that, Samarawickrama and Kusal Perera scored 30 and 41 runs, respectively, and forged a great partnership.
Further, as they both departed, Dhananjaya de Silva, Alex Ross, and Liyanage also departed soon after scoring single-digit runs. Later in the end, star middle order batter Hayden Kerr scored 25 runs, which helped them post 134 runs towards the end of 20 overs.
Later, while chasing, the Jaffna Kings also had a poor start as their openers Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Charith Asalanka departed after scoring 3 and 5 runs, respectively. Following him, the great batter Towhid Hridoy departed without scoring any runs, while the great South African batter David Miller scored two runs. Furthermore, Pakistan star batter Shoaib Malik scored an unbeaten 74 runs from 53 balls, featuring five boundaries and 6 sixes, to reach near the total but ultimately fell short as they could only rack up 125 runs in the given 20 overs.
The bowling unit felt they can win this game: Hasan Ali
Meanwhile, the great bowler Hasan Ali was awarded Player of the Match for scalping crucial three wickets for his side, Dambulla Aura.
“We were thinking to put 160-170. The total was small. But the bowling unit felt they can win this game. We just bowled the hard length. We always have plans. We got Gurbaz out and luckily got a few wickets to put them under pressure. The ball wasn’t coming onto the bat. The legend – Shoaib Malik – made it look easy. But happy we won,” Hasan Ali said after the win.
Moreover, Dambulla Aura’s skipper also expressed happiness after defending the low total against Jaffna Kings.”The wicket was good. The batting was below par. The bowling did well despite the way Shoaib Malik batted. We should have scored at least 160,” Kusal Mendis said following the win.
Look at how the fans have reacted:
Allahumduillah! pic.twitter.com/Mzj4BBsxd3
— Hassan Ali 🇵🇰 (@RealHa55an) August 8, 2023
Hassan Ali bowling performance against jaffana kings
20/3 win the match for Dambulla Aura🔥 pic.twitter.com/7Djf6fGC8z— Haris 👑🇵🇰 (@cricFreakRashid) August 7, 2023
3 wickets for Hasso 💙💙. MashaAllah 😇. Brilliant bowling from @RealHa55an 🙌🔥. Welldone Champ 👏🔥.#HassanAli #Cricket #CricketTwitter #LPL2023 #LPLT20 #DambullaAura pic.twitter.com/LMhFQM5UM9
— Lovely Queen 💖 (@PrincessAmoo23) August 7, 2023
Lowest totals defended in LPL history :
129 by Galle Gladiators vs Jaffna in 2021
134 by Dambulla Aura vs Jaffna in 2023 ***
137 by Jaffna Kings vs Galle in 2022
138 by Dambulla Aura vs Colombo in 2021#LPL2023 pic.twitter.com/G5F64pYi4b— Thurunu Jayasiri (@ThurunuJ) August 7, 2023
Oh!Wow!That is extremely so fantastic as he's a spectacular all-rounder in his career n almost won for Jaffna Kings after d first match of d tournament yesterday n even I did feel a bit nervous though in d last overs before Hassan Ali n Noor Ahmad restricted some runs!🙏🏻
— DGuy (@Superb_Talent1) August 7, 2023
Shoaib malik is my favorite
— Areeba Jameel (@AiPi123) August 7, 2023
74 not out
53 balls
5 fours
6 sixesA remarkable knock by Shoaib Malik for Jaffna Kings but he finishes on the losing side!#LPLT20 #ThePakistanWay pic.twitter.com/4KJiQNB9Vd
— shoaib Akhtar (@shoaibA09674447) August 7, 2023
No one but him. Evergreen @realshoaibmalik 👍
— Mir Ansar-ul Haq (@AnsarUlHaqMir) August 7, 2023