B-Love Kandy secured a thrilling eight-run win against Jaffna Kings, propelled by Mohammad Haris’s explosive 81-run innings. This victory secured their place in the LPL 2023 playoffs.
Opting to bat first, B-Love Kandy reached a commendable total of 178/8 in 20 overs, with Haris’s dominating knock as the highlight. Haris hit 10 boundaries and two sixes on his way to a top score of 81 off 51 balls.
During his outstanding knock of 81 runs, Haris also achieved a milestone by surpassing 1000 runs in T20 matches. Since his debut in October 2020, he holds the highest strike rate among Pakistani batsmen with over 1000 T20 runs. His strike rate stands at an impressive 148.75, followed by Asif Ali with 145.42, Saim Ayub with 144.75, Azam Khan with 144.05, and Khushdil Shah with 143.42.
Chasing 179, Jaffna Kings fell short by just eight runs, posting 170/6 despite Shoaib Malik’s half-century.
Malik, along with Chris Lynn and David Miller, attempted a comeback, but B-Love Kandy’s bowlers, led by Angelo Mathews (3/10), kept the pressure on.
A crucial partnership between Thisara Perera and Malik was broken by Nuwan Pradeep, and despite Malik’s unbeaten 55 off 37 balls, Jaffna Kings couldn’t overcome the target.
The win secured B-Love Kandy’s place in the LPL 2023 playoffs, positioned second with eight points in six matches.
