Sri Lanka Cricket introduces new 'power-blast overs' feature in LPL to compete with IPL

An exciting new feature called 'Power Blast Overs' has been introduced for the upcoming season of the Lanka Premier League. The move was announced by Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) through a media release.

The new feature has been added to generate more excitement in the matches among the viewers and the fans. However, it will be a challenge for the teams to adjust to the new rule and plan accordingly.

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What is 'Power Blast Overs'?

'Power Blast Overs' is a feature that gives both teams a special powerplay towards the end of their innings. This new innovation will allow both the playing teams to take a two-over powerplay during the 16th and 17th overs of their innings.

A total of four fielders will be allowed outside the circle in the 'Power Blast Overs' phase as opposed to two players during the traditional powerplay. The move has been introduced to make the game more thrilling and exciting than before.

The traditional powerplay during the first six overs of an innings will remain as usual and this new powerplay will be an addition to it. 

The Lanka Premier League 2024 will introduce an exciting new feature with the addition of a special power play towards the latter part of each innings.

This new innovation, named ‘Power Blast Overs,’ will provide each team with a two-over power play during the 16th and 17th… pic.twitter.com/9fDFB35z9l

— Sri Lanka Cricket 🇱🇰 (@OfficialSLC) June 27, 2024

As of now, the 'Power Blast Overs' feature seems more inclined to the batters. The start of the 16th over marks the initial phase of death overs in a T20 innings and it could give the batters the momentum they require.

At the same time, the bowlers will have a chance to pick up wickets as the batters will aim to be more aggressive. It remains to be seen how the new rule plays out in LPL 2024.

Lanka Premier League 2023 recap

In the LPL 2023 final, B-Love Kandy defeated Dambulla Aura by 5 wickets to win the title. Sri Lanka's current captain Wanindu Hasaranga was adjudged Player of the Tournament for his excellent all-round performances. Hasaranga scored the most runs in that season and also picked up the most no. of wickets. He finished the season with 279 runs and 19 wickets in 10 matches.

Later, the name of the Dambulla Aura franchise was changed to Dambulla Sixers. However, the team was banned due to their owner being arrested on suspicion of match-fixing.

But despite the ban, SLC announced that the tournament will be played as per the schedule while the franchise will have a new owner.

Lanka Premier League history

LPL 2024 will begin on July 1 with defending champions B-Love Kandy taking on Dambulla Sixers in the first match of the tournament in Pallekele. The final of the tournament will take place on July 21 in Colombo.

The tournament will have five teams competing against each other for three weeks to lift the coveted title. The five participating teams are B-Love Kandy, Colombo Strikers, Dambulla Sixers, Galle Marvels, and Jaffna Kings.

The tournament started in the year 2020. Jaffna Kings won the first three editions of the tournament in 2020, 2021, and 2022, while B-Love Kandy won in 2023. The fifth edition of the tournament will be held this year.