LPL 2024 Points Table: Updated Standings after Dambulla Sixers vs Jaffna Kings, Match 8

Colombo strikers eked out a two-run victory against the Kandy Falcons in the seventh match of the 2024 Lanka Premier League (LPL) at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium on Saturday, July 6.

Meanwhile, the eighth match of the tournament between the Dambulla Sixers and the Jaffna Kings was an interesting affair, with the Kings coming on top in that game. Jaffna Kings continue their domineering form in this edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL).

With three wins in four matches and an NRR of +0.516, the Jaffna Kings have accumulated a total of six points so far. The Colombo Strikers, after their win against the Kandy Falcons, are in the second position on the points table with four points in three matches and a healthy net run rate of +0.767.

The Galle Marvels sit pretty in the third position with the same number of points as the Colombo Strikers. However, an inferior net run rate of +0.033 is the reason why they are behind the Strikers after three games this season. The Falcons have just managed to win one game this season. With two points and a nrr of -0.408, the Falcons are in the fourth spot on the LPL 2024 points table.

The Sixers haven't started the tournament the way they would have liked to start with zero points in three games. With no wins and an abysmal NRR of -1.130, the Sixers continue languishing at the bottom of the points table.

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Strikers scrape a two-run victory over Falcons; Sixers lose third on the trot

The Colombo Strikers posted a first-inning total of 199/9 in 20 overs after being asked to bat first against the Kandy Falcons. Kiwi international Glenn Phillips top scored for the strikers, scoring 70 off just 43 balls, while contributions from Rahmanullah Gurbaz (20 off 10), Angelo Perera (38 off 23), Shadab Khan (23 off 12), and Chamika Karunaratne (13 off 5) helped the strikers post a competitive target of 200 runs.

Dushmnatha Chameera took 3/40 in four overs for the Falcons, while his teammates Shoriful Islam and Wanindu Hasaranga took two wickets each.

In reply, Kandy Falcons opener Andre Fletcher scored 47 off 36 deliveries at a strike rate of 130.56. Mohammad Haris (56 off 32), Kamindu Mendis (36 off 16), and Angelo Matthews (33 off 14) kept the Kandy Falcons in the hunt, but to their dismay, the Falcons fell just short of the required target as the Colombo Strikers scraped a two-run win over the Kandy Falcons. Matheesha Pathirana took 4/26 in his four-over spell against the Falcons.

The Dambulla Sixers won the toss and elected to field first in the second game of the day against the Jaffna Kings. The decision to bowl first backfired on the Sixers as the Kings went on to pile up a score of 218/5 in 20 overs.

Pathum Nissanka’s 88 off 53 deliveries at the top of the order, combined with a well-made 57 off 30 balls by Avishka Fernando, helped the Kings post a total of well over 200. Skipper Charith Asalanka and Azamatullah Omarzai contributed to the overall score too with their quickfire cameos.

Kusal Perera opened the innings alongside Reeza Hendricks with positive intent but soon fell prey to Asitha Fernando’s bowling. Hendricks, never let the Dambulla Sixers’ asking rate go up with his flawless batting, as he scored 80 off 50 deliveries.

Nuwanidu Fernando scored 16 off eight deliveries but couldn't carry on. Mark Chapman was the only other batter who looked comfortable on the field, but he too departed after managing to score 30 off 17 balls. In the end, the target of 219 runs proved to be a bit much for the Sixers, as the Kings won this game by a margin of 30 runs.