HAMBANTOTA, Sri Lanka, CMC – Johnson Charles’s poor start to the Sri Lanka Premier League continued yesterday after his Jaffna Stallions went down by six wickets to Kandy Tuskers.
Opting to bat first at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium, Stallions were bundled out for 150 off their 20 overs and Tuskers easily chased down their target with five balls to spare.
For Charles, the game proved another disappointment as he made only 17 off 13 deliveries before succumbing in the fifth over with the score on 44, holing out to a running catch at mid off by South African Dale Steyn off fast bowler Nuwan Pradeep.
Charles, a former West Indies T20 opener, had earlier lost Avishka Fernando without scoring to the second ball of the contest but put on 32 for the second wicket with Charith Asalanka who made 18.
However, it was Pakistani star Shoaib Malik who really rescued the innings, stroking 59 off 44 balls with five fours and a six, putting on 59 for the fourth wicket with Minod Bhanuka who made 21.
Once Bhanuka perished, however, Stallions lost their last seven wickets for 49 runs.
In reply, Asela Gunaratne powered the run chase with an unbeaten 52 off 37 deliveries, striking five fours and a six as he added 56 in an unbroken fifth wicket stand with Irfan Pathan who hit a 19-ball unbeaten 25.
Captain Kusal Perera had earlier propelled the top order with his 42 off 36, posting a crucial 51 for the fourth wicket with Gunaratne.
In the other game of the doubleheader at the venue, Jamaica and West Indies batsman Chadwick Walton retired hurt on seven as his Galle Gladiators suffered a four-wicket defeat to Dambulla Vikings.
The five-team standings is headed by Vikings with 11 points – two clear of Stallions, with Andre Russell’s Colombo Kings third on eight points.
