BY M. SHAMIL AMIT

Quick-fire knocks by openers KusalMendis and DanushkaGunathilake laid the foundation for the Galle Gladiators before NuwanThushara’s five-wicket haul ensured a convincing win over Jaffna Kings in the Qualifier 1 match of the Lanka Premier League played at the Sooriyawewa Stadium in Hambantota yesterday to cruise through to the final.

Yesterday’s 64-run victory was the third successive win the Gladiators have had over the Kings in this year’s LPL. 

Jaffna Kings in their run chase of a formidable score of 189 put themselves in a perilous position with their top five batsmen back in the pavilion with just 85 runs on the board in the 12th over.

From there on it was going to be a daunting task and apart from WaninduHasaranga, who made 29, the others failed to make any impression as right arm pacieThusara ran through the batting as the Kings were scuttled out for 124 runs.

Galle Gladiators, after being invited to take first lease of the wicket, had openers Mendis and Gunathilake send the Jaffna Kings bowlers on a leather hunt as they posted 50 runs on the board in just five overs.

At the halfway stage of the innings they were on 95 for 0 and Gunathilake was the first to reach the half ton with a six, taking the partnership past the 100-run mark.   

Mendis reached his half ton in 34 balls before skipper ThisaraPerera made the breakthrough with the wicket of Gunathilake who made 55 in 42 balls but not before the pair had put on the best partnerships of the tournament that 121 runs.

With just under seven overs of batting left Mendis went on the rampage and was unfortunate to miss out on a ton as he became the victim of SurangaLakmal -- his 85 runs coming in 53 balls including seven boundaries and four sixes.

The Gladiators will now meet the winner of the Qualifier 2 encounter between Dambulla Giants and Jaffna Kings scheduled to be played on December 21 at 7.30 p.m.