Andre Russell starred for Colombo Kings as his quick-fire 65 runs off 19 balls led the team to a 34-run win over Galle Gladiators in Saturday's rain-reduced five-over clash at Hambantota.
With play delayed because of rain, the fourth match of the Lanka Premier League tournament, which ended in a very controlled fashion after an unbelievable third over from Colombo Kings off-spinner Ashan Priyanjan that went for just one, then completely shut Galle Gladiators out of the match.
Chasing 97, the Gladiators were left needing 46 runs from the last over; and Kings then piled on the pressure with the wicket of Shahid Afridi, bowled by Qais Ahmad, after the Gladiators skipper tried to force the next delivery through mid-wicket, resulting in a top edge sailing over point.
Mohammad Amir, who bowled the first over, finished up with consecutive sixes and boundaries, handing the Kings 26 runs.
The Galle Gladiators made a modest 62 for two, Gunathilaka top scored for the Gladiators with 30 off 15 hitting 2 sixes and 2 boundaries.
Russell, playing his second LPL match, cracked four sixes and nine boundaries in a 14-ball 53 knock; the fastest of his 22 standard T20 fifties.
Andre Russell, who was declared 'Man of the Match', said: "It's simple. When you bat in a situation like in a 5-over game, you have to back yourself; see the ball, hit the ball—and that's what I did. We know once we get 80+ runs, that will be a chokehold on the neck of the opposers."
"t's all about bat speed. I swing real hard, and that's why most times, when I get the ball good on the bat, it tends to go a long way," he added.
The next match for Colombo is scheduled for Tuesday, against Dambulla Viiking.
Chief Scores:
Colombo Kings 96/1 in 5 Overs. (A. Russel n.o. 65, L. Evans n.o. 21, A. Fernando 1/26)
Galle Gladiators 62/2 in 5 Overs (D. Gunathilaka n.o. 30, Shahid Afridi 12, A. Priyanjan 1/1, Q. Ahmad 1/11)
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