[caption id="attachment_178184" align="alignleft" width="456"]
Dhananjaya Lakshan (left) and Lahiru Madushanka during Galle Gladiators' run chase on Tuesday (11) night at the LPL 2021 match no. 5. Photo SLC[/caption]
By Marlon Dale Ferreira
The Galle Gladiators got the better of Kandy Warriors, as they went on to beat them by four wickets in the second edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2021 encounter, at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday (7).
On a slow-paced track, Kandy Warriors, who lost opener Kennar Lewis and No. 3 batter Charith Asalanka soon, found themselves unable to put up a decent total. They were rescued thereafter when Kamindu Mendis (39) and Ahmed Shehzad (56) strung together an 83-run partnership to take the Warriors to 99 runs in 12.3 overs.
From being 78 for two in 10 overs at one stage, Kandy Warriors could only muster a further 65 runs in the next ten overs to reach a target of 143 runs, as Samit Patel who took 3/13 and Noor Ahmed who took 1/22 tightened the screws.
Galle Gladiators, in their run chase, got off to a flamboyant start with Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis putting on 50 runs in only 4.4 overs.
Thereafter, with the scoreboard reading 62, Mendis was the first to go adjudged LBW and then Gunathilaka, who made 45 runs inclusive of two sixes and four fours, soon followed. Galle Gladiators then lost Ben Dunk, Mohamed Hafeez, Samit Patel, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa in a cluster, leaving them precariously placed, still needing 30 runs to get in the last three overs.
A cool and calm Lahiru Madushanka batting alongside the Player of the Match, Dhananjaya Lakshan (10 not out), then smashed the Kandy Warriors Skipper Angelo Perera for a six and a four in his first two deliveries of the 20th over, to see his team reach their target.
Brief Scores:
Kandy Warriors 143/6 in 20 overs (Ahmed Shehzad 56, Kamindu Mendis 32; Samit Patel 3/13, Dhananjaya Lakshan 2/11)
Galle Gladiators 147/6 wickets in 19.2 overs (Danushka Gunathilaka 45, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 22, Lahiru Madushanka 22 n.o., Sachindu Colombage 3/20)
Player of the Match - Dhananjaya Lakshan (Galle Gladiators)
Dhananjaya Lakshan (left) and Lahiru Madushanka during Galle Gladiators' run chase on Tuesday (11) night at the LPL 2021 match no. 5. Photo SLC[/caption]
By Marlon Dale Ferreira
The Galle Gladiators got the better of Kandy Warriors, as they went on to beat them by four wickets in the second edition of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2021 encounter, at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium in Colombo on Tuesday (7).
On a slow-paced track, Kandy Warriors, who lost opener Kennar Lewis and No. 3 batter Charith Asalanka soon, found themselves unable to put up a decent total. They were rescued thereafter when Kamindu Mendis (39) and Ahmed Shehzad (56) strung together an 83-run partnership to take the Warriors to 99 runs in 12.3 overs.
From being 78 for two in 10 overs at one stage, Kandy Warriors could only muster a further 65 runs in the next ten overs to reach a target of 143 runs, as Samit Patel who took 3/13 and Noor Ahmed who took 1/22 tightened the screws.
Galle Gladiators, in their run chase, got off to a flamboyant start with Danushka Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis putting on 50 runs in only 4.4 overs.
Thereafter, with the scoreboard reading 62, Mendis was the first to go adjudged LBW and then Gunathilaka, who made 45 runs inclusive of two sixes and four fours, soon followed. Galle Gladiators then lost Ben Dunk, Mohamed Hafeez, Samit Patel, and Bhanuka Rajapaksa in a cluster, leaving them precariously placed, still needing 30 runs to get in the last three overs.
A cool and calm Lahiru Madushanka batting alongside the Player of the Match, Dhananjaya Lakshan (10 not out), then smashed the Kandy Warriors Skipper Angelo Perera for a six and a four in his first two deliveries of the 20th over, to see his team reach their target.
Brief Scores:
Kandy Warriors 143/6 in 20 overs (Ahmed Shehzad 56, Kamindu Mendis 32; Samit Patel 3/13, Dhananjaya Lakshan 2/11)
Galle Gladiators 147/6 wickets in 19.2 overs (Danushka Gunathilaka 45, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 22, Lahiru Madushanka 22 n.o., Sachindu Colombage 3/20)
Player of the Match - Dhananjaya Lakshan (Galle Gladiators)