Seifert steers Galle Marvels to third win

By M. Shamil Amit Reporting from Dambulla

(Daily Mirror) - An unbeaten 84 in just 49 balls, inclusive of 11 boundaries, and two sixes by Tim Seifert, who was ably supported by Alex Hales, helped Galle Marvels record a comfortable six-wicket win over Kandy Falcons in the ninth match of the fifth Lanka Premier League encounter played at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium.

Seifert was on top form as he featured in three valuable partnerships after Galle Marvels, in their run chase of 176 runs, lost their first wicket in the first over that of skipper Niroshan Dickwella, and they succeeded in racing to the target in the 18th over.

Seifert, along with Hales, was on fire as they put on a quick-fire 79-run stand for the second wicket in only 34 balls before being separated with the dismissal of Hales, who hit 38 in 19 balls with four boundaries and three sixes.

This was followed by another brief partnership of 38 runs for the third wicket with Bhanuka Rajapakse, and the icing on the cake was the unbroken 29-run stand for the fifth wicket with Sahan Arachchige for Galle Marvels to come out victorious with 17 balls to spare and to chalk up their third win of the tournament.

Earlier, Kandy Falcons, taking first lease of the wicket, fell into deep trouble as they lost their top four wickets with just 32 runs on the board in the sixth over.

Andre Fletcher, joined by Angelo Mathews, began the recovery act and posted the side's 50 runs on the board in the ninth over, and then Fletcher succeeded in racing to his half ton off 34 balls, which had four boundaries and two sixes. He was unable to make further headway as he fell victim to spinner Maheesh Theekshana after sharing a valuable 45 runs with Mathews for the fifth wicket.

Skipper Wanindu Hasaranga, who joined Mathews, guided the side and posted the 100 runs on the board, and then the 50 runs stand for the sixth wicket, making it in 29 balls. Hasaranga in particular was severe, but eight runs later they were separated, with Zahoor Khan making the break through with the wicket of Mathews, who made 25 in 27 balls and added 58 runs for the sixth wicket.

Hasaranga reached his half ton in just 27 balls that comprised five boundaries and two sixes, and he went on the rampage, helping his side to the 150-run mark. Though Kandy Falcons lost two in the remaining three overs of batting left, the last five turned out to be the best of the innings, yielding 67 runs, enabling them to end the innings on 175/7 and skipper Hasaranga remaining unbeaten on 65 made in just 32 balls, which had seven boundaries and three sixes.

Result:

• At Rangiri Dambulla – Galle Marvels won by six wickets

Kandy Falcons 175/6 in 20 overs (Andre Fletcher 50, Angelo Mathews 25, Wanindu Hasaranga 65 n.o.; Isuru Udana 3/30, Zahoor Khan 2/29)

Galle Marvels 176/4 in 17.1 overs (Alex Hales 38, Bhanuka Rajapakse 16, Tim Seirfert 82 n.o.; Shoriful Islam 2/32)