Lanka PREMIER LEAGUE Spin trio gives Galle Gladiators winning start

By M. Shamil Amit

Spin trio of Samit Patel, Mohammad Hafiz and Pulina Tharanga together shared seven wickets between them to give the Galle Gladiators a flying start. This effort guided them to a convincing 54 run win  over Jaffna Kings in the first match of the Lanka Premier League 2021 played at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Patel ended with impressive figures of 3 for 21 with Hafeez and Pulina two each for 11 and 13 runs respectively which helped Galle Gladiators to bowl out Jaffna Kings chasing a target of 165 runs for a score of 110.
Jaffna Kings in pursuit of the target was in a spot of bother with Patel and Hafeez doing the early damage to have them struggling on 56 for 4 at the halfway stage of the innings.

Only Wahab Riaz was able to put in some resistance which was not going to be sufficient as the late order batting failed to make any impression. 

Earlier Galle Gladiators last years finalists invited to take first lease of the wicket started off with a boundary in the first ball scored by Dhanushka Gunatileke. However, pacie Suranga Lakmal succeeded to dislodge him in the fourth ball of the over.

Kusal Mendis joined by Hafeez steadied the innings but was dealt a double blow with both departing in quick succession. However, skipper Bhanuka Rajapakse along with Ben Dunk came to the rescue of the side with the duo frustrating the Jaffna Kings bowlers with skipper Thisara Perera being punished for 14 runs in his first over by Rajapakse.

Today two matches are down for decision with Dambulla Giants meeting Kandy Warriors at 3.00 p.m. followed by Colombo Stars clashing with Galle Gladators at 7.30 p.m.

Today two matches are down for decision with Dambulla Giants meeting Kandy Warriors at 3.00 p.m. followed by Colombo Stars clashing with Galle Gladators at 7.30 p.m.

The pair posted their 50 runs partnership before Wanindu Hasaranga made the breakthrough for Jaffna Kings with the wicket of Dunk who made 17 and the pair having added 52 runs for the fourth wicket.

Rajapakse found another reliable partner in Samit Patel as he raced to his half ton which took him just 29 balls. The pair added 40 runs for the fifth wicket before Rajapakse’s innings came to an end brisk 56 in 31 balls that included six boundaries and three sixes.

This followed with Patel sharing 30 runs for the sixth wicket with Lahiru Madusanka before being dismissed for a knock of 40 made 31 balls which had six boundaries as the Galle Gladiators ended their innings with a challenging score of 164 for 7.