Twitter Reactions: Avishka Fernando, Tom Kohler-Cadmore’s brilliance scripts back-to-back title glories for Jaffna Kings

Jaffna Kings, on Thursday, won back-to-back titles in the Lanka Premier League. In a repeat of first season’s final, Thisara Perera and Co. defeated the Galle Gladiators by 23 runs at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium in Hambantota. The Bhanuka Rajapaksa-led Gladiators would be disappointed after finishing as the runners-up in two seasons on the trot.

Fernando, Kohler-Cadmore make hay

After winning the toss, the Kings got off to an absolute flier, scoring 61 runs in the powerplay. Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Avishka Fernando put on 56 runs for the first wicket to lay the platform. Samit Patel separated the duo, getting rid of Gurbaz, who smashed a quickfire 18-ball 35. Thereafter, Fernando and Tom Kohler-Cadmore carried on with the good work, stitching a handy 63-run stand.

Nuwan Thushara pinned Fernando in the 13th over, but Kohler-Cadmore made sure that he played until the very end. Fernando blazed his way to a 41-ball 63, laced with eight fours and two sixes. Kohler-Cadmore, on the other hand, stayed unbeaten on 57 off 41 with two fours and three sixes. Cameos from Shoaib Malik and skipper Perera made sure the Kings posted 201 for three on the board.

Gunathilaka, Mendis make hay

The Gladiators had a better start to their run-chase than the Kings as the amassed 81 runs in the powerplay. Danushka Gunathilaka scored 54 runs off 21 balls with the help of seven fours and three sixes. He got out with the Gladiators’ score at 63 for one in 4.2 overs. With 139 runs needed off 94 balls at a rate of 8.87, the Gladiators started imploding, losing wickets at pretty regular intervals.

After Kusal Mendis was run out at the striker-end for 39, the Gladiators were left high and dry. A number of their batters got into double digits, but none could convert. Maheesh Theekshana went for 51, but his spin-bowling partner Wanindu Hasaranga picked up two wickets for 30 runs. In the end, the Gladiators played out their full quota of 20 overs only to reach 178 for the loss of nine wickets.

Here’s how the netizens reacted to Jaffna Kings’ win in the LPL final in Hambantota