Johnson Charles produced a Man-of-the-Match performance on Monday that provided the Jaffna Stallions with a platform to victory over the Dambulla Viikings and into the final of the Lankan Premier League where they will meet the Galle Gladiators on Wednesday.
Charles smashed 76 from 56 balls as the Stallions scored 165 for 9 from their 20 overs. Their bowlers then combined to dismiss the Viikings for 128 in 19.1 overs.
In what was topsy-turvy semi-final, the Viikings won the toss and sent the Lions in to bat. Charles and Avishka Fernando laid the foundation for a competitive score putting on 68 before Fernando tried to shovel a length delivery from Anwar Ali over long-on only to be caught by Angelo Perera just inside the boundary rope.
Charles dominated the second-wicket partnership of 43 with Charith Asalanka, who on the last ball of the 13th over, charged Malinda Pushpakumara but failed to get the necessary elevation and picked out Ali at long-on. He made 10.
At the fall of Asalanka’s wicket, the Stallions crumbled losing five for 36 in the next four overs including that of Charles, who tried to smash a wide thigh-high full toss from Lahiru Kumara only to see Anwar Ali covering 10 yards to his left on the ring at mid-off before diving to pull off a sensational catch.
The Lions only added 19 runs from the next four overs having lost the earlier momentum from the top order.
Pushpakumara was the best of the bowlers with 2 for 24 from his four overs.
Despite losing two wickets in the first three overs for just 18 runs, Dambulla Viikings, through Niroshan Dickwella and Upul Tharanga got back into the chase getting to 62 by the start of the ninth over. However, once Dickwella fell lbw to Asalanka for 29, they lost five wickets for 34 runs and eventually 8 for 54 in a dramatic collapse.
Upul Tharanga top scored with 33 in the losing effort.
Wanindu Hasaranga was the chief destroyer with 3 for 15 and and Usman Shinwari, who created multiple run outs fielding at short third man hastened the collapse.