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Player of the Match Lahiru Udara of Galle Gladiators during his innings of 45 not out
Thanuka Dabare and Kusal Mendis set the tone for Galle Gladiators with an opening stand of 75
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
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Niroshan Dickwella’s second successive 50 for Colombo Stars was in vain
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A magnificent all-round effort by the Galle Gladiators batsmen and bowlers saw them register their first win in the Lanka Premier League beating Colombo Stars by 25 runs in the first double header of the day played at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
An excellent opening stand of 75 off 50 balls between Thanuka Dabare (36) and skipper Kusal Mendis (39) that included the highest total scored in the power play (62-0) set the tone for Galle’s competitive total of 174-6. Colombo were unable to replicate that performance losing wickets upfront and ended up with 149-7.
Player of the Match Lahiru Udara with an unbeaten 45 off 30 balls (5 fours, 2 sixes) ensured that the start given by the openers was not lost. Despite losing wickets in the middle overs for Galle to slide to 111-4 in 14, Udara found an able partner in Nuwanidu Fernando (29 off 16 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes) who helped him add 50 off five overs. In fact, Galle scored 92 off the last 10 overs and found the firepower to finish in style scoring 56 off the last five. They dominated the first six overs and the last five overs.
Colombo were never in the hunt after losing the first four wickets for 47 in nine overs and gradually fell way behind on the asking rate as the Galle bowlers bowled intelligently, varying their pace consistently to deny the Colombo batsmen any freebies. Colombo recorded the second lowest power play total (34-2) in the tournament with Nuwan Thushara bowling a rare wicket maiden by taking the prize wicket of Colombo captain Angelo Mathews for nine.
Niroshan Dickwella who was in good nick with the bat was the key if Colombo had any chance of pulling it off, but they lost him at a crucial juncture at the end of the 15th over at 99-4 when he was forced to retire hurt with his score on 58 off 44 balls (8 fours) suffering from cramps and dehydration, which more or less ended Colombo’s run chase as the pressure built up.
Dickwella who guided Colombo to their first win with a fine half-century against Dambulla Aura used the pace well with deft touches and his feet to the spinners in compiling his second fifty.
Ravi Bopara crashed three sixes and two fours scoring 46 off 35 balls but Colombo had left it too late and never felt like challenging the Galle total. Colombo also have to rethink their batting order holding back a player in the calibre of Dinesh Chandimal till the fall of the fifth wicket which left him with hardly any chance to establish himself in the middle, and Charith Asalanka who bats at number three and four for his country but was slotted in at five. (ST)
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