The Hambantota Bangla Tigers clinched the title in the inaugural Lanka T10 Super League Cricket Tournament, defeating tournament favorites Jaffna Titans by 26 runs in a thrilling final held at the Pallekele Stadium, Kandy.
Tigers’ All-Round Performance
Set a target of 133 runs, the Jaffna Titans faltered as they lost wickets at regular intervals, finishing at 107 for six. Despite a valiant unbeaten 54 by middle-order batter Tom Abell, the Titans fell short.
Hambantota’s bowling attack, led by Richard Gleeson with 3/21 and Skipper Dasun Shanaka with an economical 2/4, ensured that the Titans could not build momentum.
Key Contributions with the Bat
Batting first, the Tigers posted 133/7 in their 10 overs. The openers Mohammad Shahzad and Kusal Perera gave the team a quick start, adding 35 runs in just 2.4 overs. However, a middle-order collapse left them struggling at 59/3 at the halfway mark.
Skipper Dasun Shanaka and Shevon Daniel revived the innings with a crucial 44-run stand in three overs. Shanaka contributed a quick 21 (two sixes and two fours), while Daniel top-scored with 26 (one six and three fours). Finishing efforts by Kennar Lewis and Dhananjaya Lakshan propelled the total to a competitive 133.
Match Summary
- Hambantota Bangla Tigers: 133/7 in 10 overs
(Mohammad Shahzad 26, Dasun Shanaka 21, Shevon Daniel 26; Treveen Mathew 2/18) - Jaffna Titans: 107/6 in 10 overs
(Tom Abell 54*, Richard Gleeson 3/21, Dasun Shanaka 2/4)
A Historic Win
The Hambantota Bangla Tigers’ comprehensive all-round display crowned them the champions of the first-ever Lanka T10 Super League, setting the stage for an exciting future for this fast-paced format in Sri Lanka.
