Srinagar: Pakistan pacer Hassan Ali steered Dambulla Aura to win over Jaffna Kings in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) in Pallekele on Monday as senior batter Shoaib Malik’s effort went in vain.
Dambulla’s batting struggled to find its footing against Jaffna’s bowling attack, posting only 134 runs in 20 overs.
Shoaib Malik emerged as a force to be reckoned with, both with bat and ball. He showcased his prowess as a bowler by snaring two crucial wickets, conceding a mere 13 runs in his quota of four overs.
Jaffna’s chase encountered turbulence right from the outset, losing key wickets with the scoreboard reading a meager ten runs. At the forefront of this onslaught was Hasan Ali, who removed both opening batsmen to set the tone for a dominant bowling display. Despite intermittent resistance from Malik and Dunith Wellalage, Jaffna struggled to sustain partnerships and found runs hard to come by.
While Malik’s valiant knock of an unbeaten 74 off 53 balls, studded with 11 boundaries, seemed poised to elevate Jaffna Kings to a triumphant response, it was Hasan Ali’s relentless pressure that ultimately turned the tide. With wickets tumbling at regular intervals, the Kings could only muster a total of 125 runs in their allotted 20 overs, falling short by nine runs.
Hasan Ali, with his impactful contributions, earned the prestigious accolade of player of the match.