Lanka Premier League Mathews guides Colombo Stars to second win

By M. Shamil Amit

Skipper Angelo Mathews coming back from injury and playing his first match for Colombo Stars guided his side to a comfortable 41 runs win over Galle Gladiators in the 13th match of the Lanka Premier League tournament encounter played at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday.

Mathews laid the foundation with a solid knock of 73 as Galle Gladiators chasing a target of 163 runs for victory was able to muster a score of only 121 runs.

a late start due to rain saw the match being curtailed to 18 overs with Colombo Stars taking first lease of the wicket making a score of 162 for 7.

At the halfway stage of the innings Galle Gladiators was making steady progress with the score of 79 for 1. Kusal Mendis who made a top score of 64 in 39 balls with seven boundaries and a six turned out to be in vain as he was forced to watch losing his partners at the other end. 

Opener Mendis’ dismissal which was the fifth wicket to fall put the brakes in their run chase and they were left with the daunting task of making 53 runs from 25 balls which they failed to achieve as they lost the remaining five wickets for the addition of just 11 runs.

In the previous encounter between the two sides too Colombo Stars came out victorious by four wickets.
Earlier Skipper Angelo Mathews playing in his first match of the tournament led from the front after winning the toss and electing to take first lease though undergoing an early setback losing their first wicket in the second over on five he played with confidence.

Mathews who made a top score of 73 in just 57 balls inclusive of eight boundaries and three sixes associated in a valuable 64 runs for the second wicket with Ashan Priyanjan and at the halfway stage of the innings they were on 69 for 2.

Mathews followed it up with two useful partnerships of 30 runs later in the innings with Tom Banton for the third wicket and Dinesh Chandimal for the sixth wicket enabling Colombo Stars to chalk up a score of 162 runs.  In fact Mathews knock of 73 is the highest of the tournament by a batsman so far.

Today two matches are down for decision with Dambulla Giants meeting Jaffna Kings at 3.00 p.m. and Colombo Stars clashing with Kandy Warriors.