LPL 2020: Match 16, JAF vs KAN – Malik’s maiden fifty in SL, Irfan @ 2000 T20 runs and more stats

Kandy Tuskers improved their chances of getting into the semi-finals following their victory over the Jaffna Stallions on Wednesday evening. Despite a 44-ball 59 from Shoaib Malik, the Stallions got restricted to 150 after losing their last seven wickets for 49 runs. In response to a 151-run target, the Tuskers lost three wickets for only 44 runs in the powerplay. Asela Gunaratne (52* off 37) then added 51 for the 4th wicket with Kusal Perera before an unbeaten 56-run stand with Irfan Pathan (25* off 19).

Here are all the statistical highlights from Kandy Tuskers’ 6-wicket win during JAF vs KAN game:

Malik’s maiden fifty in Sri Lanka:

1 – Shoaib Malik’s 59 during JAF vs KAN game is his maiden fifty on Sri Lankan soil in the Twenty20 format. Malik now has a fifty-plus score in T20s in as many as ten nations – Pakistan, Bangladesh, England, India, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Scotland, West Indies, UAE and USA.

Irfan @ 2000 T20 runs:

2009 – Irfan Pathan completed 2000 runs in the Twenty20 format when he went past his individual score of 16. Almost 1400 of Irfan’s career T20 runs have come while batting at No.6 or a lower position only.

2 – Irfan became only the 2nd player from India to score over 2000 runs and also pick 150+ wickets in the Twenty20 format. Ravindra Jadeja was the first to do so who needed as many as 227 matches while Irfan Pathan completed the double in only 180 games.

Irfan turns up as a specialist batsman:

6 – Irfan Pathan did not bowl a ball during the JAF vs KAN game which is only the 6th time in his 180-match Twenty20 career where he did not have a go with the ball but the first in a completed T20.

Two of the previous five such matches got washed out without a ball being bowled (after toss) and two more got washed out halfway through the first innings. During a game in the 2016 IPL, Irfan wasn’t given the ball as the opposition innings was cut down to five overs due to rain.

Steyn returns to Sri Lanka:

2012 – Dale Steyn’s debut game of the LPL 2020 on Tuesday turned out to be his only the 2nd assignment in the Twenty20 format on Sri Lankan soil. He played five matches during the 2012 WT20 where he bagged as many as six wickets including a 3-wicket haul while giving away only 82 runs across 17 overs.