07/12Result
5th Match (N), Lanka Premier League at Colombo, Dec 7 2021
Galle won by 4 wkts (4b rem)
Player of the Match
Dhananjaya LakshanGalle Gladiators
07/12Result
5th Match (N), Lanka Premier League at Colombo, Dec 7 2021
Galle won by 4 wkts (4b rem)
Player of the Match
Dhananjaya LakshanGalle Gladiators

That's it from us folks. We'll be back with tomorrow's games - Colombo Kings v Dambulla Giants, and Jaffna Kings v Kandy Warriors. Till then, take it easy.

Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Gladiators captain: "Bowlers did quite a good job, and we showed our batting depth in the end. The start was really good for Kandy, but Samit and Noor handled the middle overs really well. We've been finishing games in the last over even in the last season."

Angelo Perera, Warriors captain: "We took a chance in that last over. The spinners had been doing very well in the game, so we thought we'd try to get two wickets with the left-arm spinner rather than give away six singles with the fast bowler."

Dhananjaya Lakshan is Player of the Match for his 2 for 18, and 10 not out off 4 at the end there. "We lost the last game, so I was trying to do my best for the team. I actually tried to get singles early in my innings, but the ball luckily went into gaps."

The first tight-ish game of this tournament so far, and it was Madushanka's boundaries off the spinners that really sealed it, after Warriors' spinners had brought them roaring back into the game. It didn't really seem like 143 would be enough when Gladiators' top order was batting, but Sachindu Colombage, Charith Asalanka, and to a lesser extent Kamindu Mendis, delivered excellent spells to slow the scoring and create chances.

Would it have made a difference if Warriors had held their catches? You'd think it would have been closer. A couple of absolute sitters were put down in the deep.

This, by the way, is Gladiators' second victory of the tournament. They've played three days in a row, but get a rest tomorrow. Warriors are yet to get off the mark on the points table.

19.2
4
Perera to Madushanka, FOUR, finishes with a big heave down the ground. This is fired in wide of off stump, and Madushanka clears the front leg and bashes this through long on for four.
19.1
6
Perera to Madushanka, SIX, that's it. That's the game. Madushanka gets low and slog sweeps that floated up delivery on the stumps, way over deep square leg for six. Perera's gamble hasn't worked.

Seven needed from the last six balls. Angelo Perera is bringing himself on. He hasn't bowled so far, but he doesn't want to give it to the seamers, who have gone for runs.

END OF OVER:
19 | 11 Runs | GG: 137/6 (7 runs required from 6 balls, RR: 7.21, RRR: 7.00)

  • Lahiru Madushanka12 (11b)
  • Dhananjaya Lakshan10 (4b)
  • Kamindu Mendis4-0-24-1
  • Rovman Powell1-0-12-1
18.6
1lb
Mendis to Madushanka, 1 leg bye, fired in on the legs. It hits the pad and dribbles away square on the legside and they scamper
18.5
1
Mendis to D Lakshan, 1 run, almost carries to deep square leg. This is swept hard and in the air. Jayaratne, the fielder there, runs in and puts in a big dive, but it bounces just short. Just the single
18.4
1
Mendis to Madushanka, 1 run, fired in on the stumps, turned to midwicket. They think about two as Mendis himself chases after it, but decide agaisnt
18.3
6
Mendis to Madushanka, SIX, is that the shot that puts Gladiators ahead? This is too wide from Mendis - an left-arm spinner pitched well wide of off stump, allowing Madushanka to free his arms, clear the front foot, and launch it back over the bowler's head for six
18.2
1
Mendis to D Lakshan, 1 run, aims a big sweep to this tossed up offbreak outside off stump, but only gets a thick under-edge and it dribbles past the keeper. They run.
18.1
1
Mendis to Madushanka, 1 run, darted in full, outside off, Opens the face and gets it to short third man for a single

Mendis to bowl the penultimate over. Left-arm spin to right-hander Madushanka.

END OF OVER:
18 | 12 Runs 1 Wkt | GG: 126/6 (18 runs required from 12 balls, RR: 7.00, RRR: 9.00)

  • Dhananjaya Lakshan8 (2b)
  • Lahiru Madushanka4 (7b)
  • Rovman Powell1-0-12-1
  • Kamindu Mendis3-0-14-1
17.6
4
Powell to D Lakshan, FOUR, that's wonderful stuff from Lakshan. Again opens the face, again gets it off the outside half, just beats the diving keeper, and it goes fine of short third again. He keeps Gladiators in the hunt with those boundaries.
17.5
4
Powell to D Lakshan, FOUR, outside half of the bat for four. This is length outside off stump. Lakshan opens the face and runs it fine of short third man for four. Excellent, thinking start to his innings

Dhananjaya Lakshan, the new batter, played some decent innings in the first LPL. Can he doe something here.

17.4
W
Powell to Rajapaksa, OUT, huuuuge wicket here. Warriors are refusing to die. And as this is Rajapaksa who is now out, they may have even inched ahead for the first time in this chase. This is a slower ball, length on off stump. Rajapakse tries to launch this over cow corner, but misses, and the ball clatters into off stump.

PBB Rajapaksa b Powell 22 (13b 2x4 1x6) SR: 169.23

17.3
1
Powell to Madushanka, 1 run, dropped! This is lifted straight to deep midwicket - straight into the midriff, but he drops it. Straight into the hands and out again. Powell is livid, understandably.
17.2
2
Powell to Madushanka, 2 runs, slower ball again, legcutter I think. Back of a length outside off stump. Madushanka lays into that, hitting it aerially, but deep midwicket runs across to keep it to two
17.1
1
Powell to Rajapaksa, 1 run, slower ball, length outside off, drilled to the sweeper cover

Pace, after the longest time. Rovman Powell.

END OF OVER:
17 | 3 Runs | GG: 114/5 (30 runs required from 18 balls, RR: 6.70, RRR: 10.00)

  • Lahiru Madushanka1 (5b)
  • Bhanuka Rajapaksa21 (11b)
  • Kamindu Mendis3-0-14-1
  • Sachindu Colombage4-0-20-3
16.6
0
Mendis to Madushanka, no run, attempted reverse sweep and an lbw appeal, as Madushanka fails to connect. This is a left-arm spinner, pitching outside off, and sliding on with the arm. But that's hit glove, not pad, says the third umpire, who sticks with the on-field umpires' not out decision, after the fielding team review.
16.5
1
Mendis to Rajapaksa, 1 run, down the track, trying to launch this flat, quick delivery on off stump over long on. But he mis-hits it, and just gets it to that long on, on the bounce
16.4
1
Mendis to Madushanka, 1 run, another flat delivery, outside off. Pushed just wide of short cover to sprint a single

LPL News

Galle 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st62MD GunathilakaBKG Mendis
2nd21Mohammad HafeezMD Gunathilaka
3rd5Mohammad HafeezBR Dunk
4th0Mohammad HafeezPBB Rajapaksa
5th23SR PatelPBB Rajapaksa
6th7PBB RajapaksaLD Madushanka
7th29LD MadushankaD Lakshan