Brendan Taylor guides Kandy Tuskers to first win

Zimbabwean Brendan Taylor playing his first game for Kandy Tuskers scored a fine half-century to bring his team their first win of the tournament against Galle Gladiators at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium yesterday

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Kandy Tuskers came up with a well-disciplined performance to beat Galle Gladiators by 25 runs and secure their first win in the LPL tournament at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Stadium yesterday.

Kandy invited to bat first totalled 196-5 on a slow pitch that required the batsmen to do all the work to score runs. In reply Galle could reply with only 171-7.

Kandy’s innings was made up of two good half-century stands between the two Kusals – skipper Perera (27) and Mendis (49) – followed by another between Zimbabwean Brendan Taylor who top scored with 51 not out off 35 balls - his 25th T20 fifty – and Kamindu Mendis (28).

When Galle began their run chase, Kandy were without their skipper Kusal Perera who didn’t take the field due to a groin strain. Brendan Taylor took on the glove work behind the stumps and Kusal Mendis took over the captaincy and marshalled his bowler’s and fielders very well to bring Kandy the much deserved win.

Galle’s response was spearheaded by opener Danushka Gunathilaka who kept their hopes alive with a well-paced knock of 82 off 53 balls (13 fours, 1 six). The rest of the Galle batting was disappointing as none scored more than 17 runs. The biggest setback to their chances was the dismissal of their captain Shahid Afridi to a golden duck.     

The last nail in the coffin for Galle was delivered by Asela Gunaratne who with a direct throw from the outfield ran out the only man who could have possibly won the game for Galle – Gunathilaka – in the 18th over with 47 needed off 15 balls.   

Gunaratne had earlier bowled the first maiden of the tournament in the fourth over of the Galle innings which included the wicket Azam Khan for 13.

Brendan Taylor playing his first game for Galle took the Man of the Match award.

Galle’s losing captain Afridi said: “The total was chaseable but the main thing was that we couldn’t keep our wickets intact. We need just one victory and we will be back in business.”

Scores:

Kandy Tuskers 196-5 (20) (Kusal Perera 27, Kusal Mendis 49, Brendan Taylor 51 n.o., Kamindu Mendis 28, Lakshan Sandakan 2/41)

Galle Gladiators 171-7 (20) (Danushka Gunathilaka 82)