Galle Gladiators recorded a thrilling four-wicket win with four balls to spare against Kandy Warriors in their LPL cricket fixture played at the R. Premadasa International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
Galle Gladiators, chasing a target of 144, made their required runs with four wickets in hand to seal the victory. They had to take seven runs in the final over, which was bowled by skipper Angelo Perera; and Lahiru Madushanka stroked a six and a four to seal their win with four balls to spare. Galle openers Dhanushka Gunatilleke (45) and Kusal Mendis (16) added 62 runs to make a good foundation in just 7.3 overs.
Earlier Kandy Warriors opener Ahmed Shehzad top-scored 56 in 51 balls, hitting seven fours and a six, while Kamindu Mendis scored 32 in 25 balls with four boundaries and added 83 runs in the third-wicket stand to build up their total.
Dhananjaya Lakshan, who came to the side in place of Isuru Udana, made a vital breakthrough to end this most successful combination; and wicketkeeper Ben Dunk ran forward to take a simple catch to dismiss Mendis in the 13th over.
However, Galle Gladiators spinners controlled the game after ten overs to exert more pressure, while Thillekaratne Sampath scored 19 in 9 balls, with 2 fours and a six during the last two overs. Galle Gladiators’ leg spinner Samit Patel led the way to finish with 3 for 13, while medium paceman Dhananjaya Lakshan bowled only two overs and finished with 2 for 11. Dhananjaya Lakshan was the ‘Man of the Match’.
Chief scores
Kandy Warriors: 143/6 in 20 overs (Ahmed Shehzad 56, Kamindu Mendis 32, Angelo Perera 10, Thillekaratne Sampath 19*, Samit Patel 3/13, Dhananjaya Lakshan 2/11)
Galle Gladiators: 147/6 in 19.2 overs (Kusal Mendis 16, Dhanushka Gunatilleke 45, Mohammad Hafeez 13, Bhanuka Rajapaksa 22, Lahiru Madushanka 22*, Dhananjaya Lakshan 10*, Sachindu Colombage 3/20)
by Daily News Sri Lanka
, Sports, ,