Galle Marvels prevail after thrilling tie

By M. Shamil Amit

(Daily Mirror) - Galle Marvels prevailed with a Super Over win against Dambulla Sixers after the match ended in a thrilling tie, with the two sides having ended their innings with a score of 148 in the 16th match of the fifth Lanka Premier League tournament played at R. Premadasa Stadium.

The match that went into the one-over eliminator or super over saw Dambulla Sixes being able to make only six runs, and Galle Marvels, in their turn, made it quits in the third ball before Alex Hales sealed the game for Galle Marvels with a towering six as they took sweet revenge for their 25-run defeat in the first game between the two teams played at Dambulla.

Dambulla Sixers, chasing a victory target of 149 runs, underwent some anxious moments as they too struggled and were in a bad position of 97 for 5 in the 15th over. But opener Reeza Hendricks, who made a top score of 72 in 57 balls with six boundaries and a six, helped them recover.

Hendricks, along with skipper Mohammad Nabi, rescued the side and brought them closer to the target with a valuable 46 runs for the sixth wicket, and their separation saw them fall back. Galle Marvels needing eight runs in the last over was unfortunate, with skipper Nabi running himself out when they required one run in the last ball, which resulted in it ending in a tie.

Galle Marvels taking first lease of the wicket was given a sedate start by openers Alex Hales and skipper Niroshan Dickwella, who together put on 44 runs, which came to an end with the dismissal of Dickwella, and Hales did not last long as he was dismissed 16 runs later.

From there on, they struggled and lost wickets at regular intervals and were in a spot of trouble with five of their top batsmen back in the pavilion with 93 runs on the board in the 15th over.

Sahan Arachchige and Dwaine Pretorius associated in a brief stand of 34 runs for the sixth wicket before they were separated with the dismissal of Pretorious, and with the score on 127 for 6, they were dealt a double blow as Arachchige followed at the same score. With 11 balls to negotiate, they lost two more wickets for the addition of 21 runs, ending with a score of 148 for 9.

Result:
At R. Premadasa Stadium – Galle Marvels won one over eliminator

• Galle Marvels 148/9 in 20 overs (Alex Hales 38, Tim Seifert 23, Dwaine Pretorius 16, Sahan Arachchige 15; Mohammad Nabi 2/14, Dushan Hemantha 2/19, Nuwan Pradeep 2/42)
• Dambulla Sixers 148/7 in 20 overs (Reeza Hendricks 72, Ibrahim Zadran 30, Mohammad Nabi 25; Maheesh Theekshana 3/26)

(Pix by Kushan Pathiraja)