Galle Gladiators record first win in  LPL

Left-arm quick Mohammad Amir picked up a five wicket haul as Galle Gladiators beat Colombo Kings in the LPL at Suriyawewa yesterday. It was the first five wicket haul in the competition.

Galle Gladiators got some momentum behind their campaign in the inaugural Lanka Premier League as they recorded their first win in the tournament beating Colombo Kings by eight wickets at Suriyawewa yesterday

Galle have struggled in the competition and to make matters worse their skipper Shahid Afridi remains unavailable having returned to Pakistan due to personal reasons.

Galle although have only two points, they are ahead of Kandy Tuskers in the points table on Net Run Rate which means they still have a chance of making it to the semi-finals. Both teams have two games each in the five team competition. Jaffna Stallions, Colombo Kings and Dambulla Viikings all have eight points each and they are certain of semi-final slots.

Left-arm quick Mohammad  Amir was the hero for Galle Gladiators picking up the first ever five wicket haul in the competition. Amir picked up wickets with the  new ball and came back to run through the tail. He bowled last over of the innings and accounted for three wickets as Colombo were bowled  out for 171.

It was good to see Lakshan Sandakan finally finding some control and the left-arm wrist spinner finished with three wickets.

The run chase was perfect for Galle as all four batsmen got starts and converted. The openers added 97 runs in 63 balls to steady the ship.  Ashan Ali top scored with 56 off 38 balls with nine four and one six. Danushka Gunathilaka with 38 runs off 28 balls continued his good form in the competition. He was dismissed by a clever piece of bowling by leg-spinner Qais Ahmad. The left-hander was  playing for the wrong’un but the leg-break crashed onto his back foot and he was plumb in front.

Captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa (37) and Azam Khan (35) then sealed the deal for  Colombo adding 68 runs for the third wicket without being separated.  Galle Gladiators won with 15 balls to spare and that helped boost their Net Run Rate.

Colombo’s bowling lacked venom particularly as they had rested Dushmantha Chameera, who had bowled with fire throughout the competition.