Galle through to playoffs after bowlers’ stunning effort

In their last league game of the Lanka Premier League, Galle Titans turned the tables delivering several killer punches that stunned all and sundry.

Galle’s bowlers came up with a stunning effort to bowl out Colombo Strikers for 74 runs in just ten overs and then the batters went about their business in style knocking off the target inside nine overs and the big eight wicket win delivered several telling blows.

While Colombo were knocked out of the competition, B-Love Kandy, who were sure of securing the second spot, had to watch that opportunity slip away as Galle pipped them too on superior Net Run Rate. It was a night where many unexpected things happened thanks to Galle’s superior bowling unit. In a matter of three hours, Galle from fourth in the points table and jumped to second.

Lahiru Kumara started the slide with a wicket maiden accounting for the in form Pathum Nissanka. But the fast bowler delivered the biggest blow in his next over when he had Babar Azam.

From that point on there was no recovery for Colombo. Not many were able to pick South African Chinaman bowler Tarbraiz Shamsi, who walked away with four wickets running through the middle order.

Another wrist spinner Seekkuge Prasanna polished off the tail finishing with three wickets not allowing Colombo to stage any late recovery. Shakib Al Hasan finished with one wicket while Kasun Rajitha, the standout performer for Galle in the competition, failed to pick up a wicket. His services weren’t required beyond the first two overs with the new ball as the spinners had a grip of things.

Galle have an enviable attack in the competition and should create havoc moving on in the tournament. The wickets too have suited their spin attack.

Lasith Croospulle was the standout performer when Galle chased down the target as he smashed an unbeaten 42 off 25 balls with four fours and three sixes.

Galle will now meet table toppers Dambulla Aura in the Qualifier  1 today at 3pm at RPS. The winners of the game will progress to the finals while the losers will play the Qualifier 2. No such luxuries for B-Love Kandy and Jaffna Kings, who play the eliminator tomorrow later in the day. While the losers will pack their bags, the winners will have to play the losers of the first game in the Qualifier 2.

Brief Scores:

Colombo Strikers

74 all out (10)

(Lahiru Udara 14, Nuwanindu Fernando 14, Tabraiz Shamsi 4-20, Seekkuge Prasanna 3-14, Lahiru Kumar 2-9)

Galle Titans

75-2 (8.3)

(Lasith Croospulle 42*, Shakib-al-Hasan 17, Jeffrey Vandersay 1-18)

Result:

Galle Titans won by eight wickets.