GM VS JK QUALIFIER 1

Right then, that is it from the Qualifier 1 of the LPL 2024. It is the Galle Marvels who make it to their third final while Jaffna Kings will have to take the long route now. Next up is the Eliminator between Kandy Falcons and Colombo Strikers. That will begin in a short while, but you can just switch tabs to enjoy all the build-up to the match. Cheers!

Niroshan Dickwella, the victorious skipper of Galle Marvels, reflects on the team's strategy and performance, saying they aimed to give Janith a permanent spot at Number 4 and Bhanuka at Number 5. He expresses his happiness with the team's play, noting they made several changes due to the intense competition within the squad. Dickwella believes they made the right decisions for their side.

Charith Asalanka, the captain of Jaffna Kings says that they do have another chance of making it to the final, but they need to be more disciplined in all three departments. Adds that he takes the responsibility of this defeat as he dropped a big chance and thinks that things could have been different if they had taken their catches. Says that he feels he let his team down, but also says that they will come back hard in the next game.

Dwaine Pretorius is the PLAYER OF THE MATCH for his amazing four-wicket haul. He reflects on his performance, stating that at this venue, it's very tough to bowl. They needed to maintain good line and length. The ball was stopping on the surface, so he varied the pace during the death overs. They, as a bowling group, decided that winning the powerplay would put them on top of the game. He is really happy with how the game went for them today.

Presentation Time...

Earlier in the game, Jaffna Kings posted a good total on the board courtesy of an excellent half-century from Avishka Fernando while Rilee Rossouw and Kusal Mendis also contributed with good knocks. Azmatullah Omarzai finished with a flurry for them. Dwaine Pretorius was the pick of the bowlers for Galle Marvels with four wickets while Isuru Udana got a couple and Prabath Jayasuriya chipped in with one. Surprisingly Maheesh Theekshana was quite expensive. While chasing, it was the Seifert-Liyanage show as they helped their side make it to the final.

Not much to say about the bowling effort from Jaffna Kings. Azmatullah Omarzai managed to pick up an early wicket but they were not able to build on that. The fielding was also a bit sloppy and dropping Alex Hales a couple of times did not help as the momentum completely shifted. Fabian Allen finally sent Hales back to the hut, but after that, it was all about the Galle Marvels as they dominated the game till the end. Tabraiz Shamsi got a wicket, but it was never going to be enough in this match. However, all is not lost for them as they will have another chance of making it to the final.

Galle Marvels got off to a quick start but lost their skipper who looked a bit over-aggressive. Alex Hales was given a couple of lives and somewhat made their opponents pay with a quick-fire 36 off just 21 balls. However, the in-form Tim Seifert took the attack to the bowlers and especially to Azmatullah Omarzai as he smashed him for three boundaries in one over. He forged a good partnership with Janith Liyanage who was promoted up the order and it worked like a treat for the Marvels. The duo added over 90 runs together and notched up fantastic fifties respectively. They played smart cricket and did not fail to put away the loose balls getting them closer to the target. Liyange fell just before the end of the game, but Seifer remained unbeaten on 62 off 41 balls to take his side home with around couple of overs to spare.

GALLE MARVELS ARE THROUGH TO THE FINAL! After two heartbreaks in the first two editions of the LPL, they will hope that it is the third time lucky for them.  This was a clinical run chase from them and they never really let the Kings get into the game. It will feel even sweeter as it was the Jaffna Kings who defeated them in those two finals and who knows we may say both these sides in the final once again.

SIX! It's all over! Galle Marvels go through to the finals. Tabraiz Shamsi tosses the ball up on the line of the stumps and Tim Seifert gets down on a knee and slogs the ball over the head of deep square leg for a flat six to finish things off.

Bowls on a good length on top of the stumps. Tim Seifert drives it to long on for a single. Galle Marvels now need just 3 runs to win.

FOUR! TOO SHORT! Azmatullah Omarzai bangs in short at the batter with pace and Tim Seifert gets deep in the crease and picks the length early to pull the ball in front of deep square leg for a super boundary. Galle Marvels are one hit away from the win now!

Hits the length hard on top of the off stump. Bhanuka Rajapaksa drops the ball down on the crease and runs a quick single.

Fuller on the pads of Bhanuka Rajapaksa who flicks it to the left of deep square leg for a couple of runs more.

Bangs in another short ball at the batter and Bhanuka Rajapaksa walks in and tries another upper cut but misses.

FOUR! SHOT! Too short outside the off stump line to Bhanuka Rajapaksa who stays on the crease and plays an upper cut to help the ball on its way over the head of the wicketkeeper for a boundary to start off.

Azmatullah Omarzai (2-0-21-1) is back on.