Johnson Charles and the Jaffna Stallions are the 2020 champions of the Lankan Premier League following their emphatic 53-run victory over the Galle Gladiators at Hambantota today.
Charles scored 26 runs in 15 balls in a 44-run opening partnership with Avishka Fernando (27) in just 21 balls that set the tone for the Stallions, who won the toss and chose to bat, to make 188 for 6 from their allotment of 20 overs.
"It always feels so grateful when you win a championship. I'm just glad we made it over the line. It's a very great feeling," Charles said after. "With our bowlers and the skill they have we were definitely pleased with the score we had."
Charles was the first wicket to fall off the fourth ball of the fifth over when he tried to heave a slower ball from Dhananjaya Lakshan over long-on but mistimed the shot and was caught by Gunathilaka, who 20 yards before diving to take the catch inches from the ground.
His was the first Lakshan’s three wickets. The Stallions lost two more wickets in the next four overs stumbling to 70 for 3 mid-way the ninth over. However, the champions regained some momentum in the middle overs through a fourth wicket partnership between Shoaib Mailk, who was the top scorer with 46 and Dhananjaya de Silva who had a 20-ball 33.
The innings got some late lift from Thisara Perara, who smashed five fours and two sixes in his 39 that came off just 14 balls as the Stallions raced towards their match-winning total.
Lakshan was the Gladiators’ best bowler with 3 for 36.
Needing to score at over nine runs and over to achieve victory, the Gladiators were in early trouble at 7 for 3 inside the first two overs.
However, thanks to Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who raced to 40 from just 17 balls during which he struck three fours and four sixes, the Gladiators got back in the hunt with 62 runs on the board by the middle of the ninth over when he was caught behind by the St Lucian off the bowling of Usman Shinwari, who finished with figures of 2 for 20 from his four overs.
Azam Khan tried to rally his team with a 17-ball 36 but the Gladiators lost wickets regularly and eventually ran out of time and balls at 135 for 9.
Malik was the best the bowlers with 2 for 13.