COLOMBO, Sri Lanka, CMC – Dominic Drakes was the only West Indian player to take part in the final of the Lanka Premier League, but he failed to make an impact for the Colombo Stars, and Jaffna Kings won the title by two wickets yesterday.
Drakes, a left-handed all-rounder and son of former Barbados and West Indies all-rounder Vasbert Drakes, did not bat when the Stars posted 163 for five in their 20 overs, and he did not take a wicket in two expensive overs when the Kings successfully chased their target at the Premadasa Stadium.
Sri Lanka international pacer Suranga Lakmnal was the pick of the Stars’ bowlers, taking 3-23 in three overs, and English pacer Benny Howell supported with 2-17 from three overs.
But opener Avishka Fernando hit the top score of an even 50 from 43 balls, fellow Sri Lanka international Sadeera Samarawickrama made 44 from 27 balls, and Afghanistan opener Rahmanullah Gurbaz added 36 to lead the batting for the Kings.
Fernando and Gurbaz shared 49 for the first wicket to set up the Kings’ chase, but Howell struck in successive overs to set them back on 56 for two in the seventh over.
Fernando and Samarawickrama added 72 for the third wicket to put the Kings on course, but the endured a bit of stage fight, losing six wickets for 64 between the 15th and final overs before two wides down the leg-side from pacer Kasun Rajitha formalised the result with four balls remaining.
Earlier, Sri Lanka international Dinesh Chandimal led the way for the Stars with 49, former England international Ravi Bopara supported with 47 not out, and another Sri Lanka international Charith Asalanka made 31.
