An emphatic win by the Sri Lankan Lions over the Napa Kings as they book their places alongside Sher-e-Punjab in the finals of ECS Cyprus, Encore 2024.
They have simply been the better team in this semi-finals and have completely outplayed their opponents, Napa Kings who needed to chase down a big total of 163 to win this one.
The run chase started off in electric manner as Gurdip Sharma smashed Raiz for 26 runs in the first over and gave the impression that the Napa Kings were up for it, it was definitely game on at that stage. But, post that, the brakes were applied and they just could not get the big hits that were needed to challenge this kind of a total.
The Sri Lankan Lions' bowlers were smart and clinical in their execution using the wide line to very good effect. They frustrated the batters by not offering them anything in the hitting arc and then eventually got the better of them. The likes of Ali Khan, Gurdip Sharma did look good for a bried period but it was Chamal Sadun who provided the crucial breakthroughs for the Lions and in a way sealed the match through the middle overs with his 3 wickets.
It was too much to do for the lower order and they just dawdled around towards the end as the bowlers kept on hitting good areas and taking regular wickets. Eventually, it turned to be a huge deficit and the Sri Lankan Lions have coasted through to the finals when they will take on Sher-e-Punjab in an attempt to defend their title.
10
overs
115/7score
1wd
1
1
0
1
0
0
runs
Kashif Pervez*
17(8)
Sanaullah Safi
4(8)
Kasun Sandaru
0/4
9.6 Kasun Sandaru to Kashif Pervaiz, steps out. It is a full toss but Pervaiz's swinging blade has failed to make a connection with the ball. That's it! Sri Lankan Lions win and a place in the finals is theirs!
9.5 Kasun Sandaru to Kashif Pervaiz, the batter shuffles across to the leg side. Sandaru follows him up with a yorker. Pervaiz cannot put it away.
9.4 Kasun Sandaru to Sanaullah Safi, driven down to wide long off and they jog a single.
9.3 Kasun Sandaru to Sanaullah Safi, angled across the right hander, who swings hard and makes no connection.
9.2 Kasun Sandaru to Kashif Pervaiz, slower ball. IT HAS BEEN SENT MILES IN THE AIR.... DROPPED! Sadun ran in from deep midwicket, got two hands to it and spilled it.
9.1 Kasun Sandaru to Sanaullah Safi, switches to around the wicket. LOW FULL TOSS! Safi whips it away to deep midwicket and runs a single.
9.1 Kasun Sandaru to Sanaullah Safi, WAYWARD START! Down the leg side. Wide called.
Kasun Sandaru, right-arm medium, will bowl the final over
Kashif Pervaiz has certainly had a brilliant day out. But unfortunately for him, it is not going to be on the winning side. Final over coming up with 52 runs needed
9
overs
111/7score
W
0
1wd
2
4
4
6
runs
Kashif Pervez*
16(5)
Sanaullah Safi
2(5)
Srinath Rajith
1/27
8.6 Srinath Rajith to Kashif Pervaiz, steps out and hoicks it over. THE BALL SAILS OVER THE COW'S CORNER! Six runs. Kashif Pervaiz is having fun out there.
8.5 Srinath Rajith to Kashif Pervaiz, full and on to the pads. FLICKED FOR FOUR!! The ball scampers away to the square leg boundary.
100 comes up
8.4 Srinath Rajith to Kashif Pervaiz, FOUR!! Width on offer and it has been slapped away through the covers for a boundary.
8.3 Srinath Rajith to Kashif Pervaiz, DROPPED!! The batter skies it up straight over the bowler's head. Long off and long on converge and in the end spill the chance due to a bit of a collision.
8.3 Srinath Rajith to Kashif Pervaiz, wide down the leg side. Re-bowl that please.
8.2 Srinath Rajith to Kashif Pervaiz, full ball, angled across the left hander. Pervaiz looks to drive it through the off side but misses.
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Napa Kings
Kashif Pervez
*
Kasun Sandaru
Video
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