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| 1W | 1W | |||
| 1W | ||||
| 1W | ||||
Scorer: Ranjith P | Commentator: Shashwat Kumar
11:50pm That brings us to the end of our coverage for tonight. We had to wait a bit for the game to actually begin but once it did, there was no shortage of entertainment or drama. Hope you enjoyed it just as much as we loved bringing it to you. Until next time, this is goodbye from me, Ranjith and everyone else at ESPNcricinfo. Take care, folks!
Jason Behrendorff, Player of the Match: (On the pitch) It was a little bit sticky, a bit of bounce and a little two-paced. Something for the bowlers, so it was nice. (What was the right length to bowl) Top of the stumps, back of a length. Some were going through, some weren't. The batters had to change their swing and you did not have to do much. (On his LPL experience) My first time to Sri Lanka and I have been loving it.
Charith Asalanka, Jaffna Kings captain: Just smash it. I was under pressure but when I was coming in to bat, it was almost 12-12.5 runs per over, so I had to smash it and I think I did it. (On if they will be making changes for the next league game) Tough question, I have to speak to the coach first (smiles). I am pretty happy right now, if I want to see a few players, I can do it (in the next match).
Wanindu Hasaranga, Kandy Falcons captain: We have one game left, we just want to finish (strongly). Covers were on since the morning and the we knew the wicket was going to be slow. We wanted to score 75-plus. We achieved that target but we did not bowl well after the first three-four overs.
11:36pm And...breathe. A frantic seven-over-per-side shootout that does not even last the distance, primarily because the Kings were so good with their six-hitting. Two overs into their chase, it felt that they would flounder, having lost Mendis, Nissanka and Rossouw. Asalanka, though, stepped up thereafter and the rest followed suit, with Omarzai applying the finishing touches towards the end.
Some of the Falcons' decision-making was questionable. Shoriful and Hasnain did not bowl at all, while Fletcher did. Hasaranga also looked a little off-colour, despite picking up two wickets in his only over. Mathews and Shanaka did well in their respective first overs but became too predictable in their second, which allowed the Kings to take them down.
WIA Fernando run out 16 (7b 0x4 2x6) SR: 228.57
Just 13 needed now. The Kings are yet to hit a four. And there are more surprises in store. Fletcher to bowl. Still no Hasnain or Shoriful. Or Ramesh Mendis
Heino Kuhn, Netherlands' batting coach under Ryan Cook, will take charge of the team on an interim basis
A pitch at the same venue had received an unsatisfactory rating from the match referee ODI between USA and Netherlands last week
Sri Lanka's T20 franchise competition returns for the first time since its 2024 edition, with the player draft scheduled for June 1
Jasprit Bumrah tried everything he could, but the rhythm was off, and the trio of Abhishek Sharma, Travis Head and Heinrich Klaasen was unforgiving
The quick injured his hamstring last month but made a strong push to recover for the decider
