Galle Gladiators produced a stunning all-round performance to reach the final of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 Cricket Tournament while defeating the more fancied Colombo Kings by two wickets in a thrilling semi-final encounter played under lights at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota yesterday.
The Gladiators, who were placed fourth in the points table, managed to contain their opponents to 150 for nine and then reached their victory target with two wickets and one ball to spare.
All-rounder Dhananjaya Lakshan was the unlikely hero for the Gladiators as he hammered an unbeaten 31 from 23 deliveries with the help of one six and two boundaries before his partner, Lakshan Sandakan hit the winning boundary in the very first ball that he faced.
There were also useful contributions from Skipper, Bhanuka Rajapaksa (33), Azam Khan (21) and Shehan Jayasuriya (22) but it were their tailenders who actually won the match for the Gladiators
Earlier, Daniel Bell-Drummond produced his best batting performance in the LPL to help the Kings reach a more competitive 150 for nine from their 20 overs after they were put in to bat.
The 27-year-old right-hander from Kent, whose previous highest score was 44 in this tournament, went on to complete a magnificent 70 from 53 deliveries inclusive of three sixes and seven boundaries.
Drummond, who came into bat after the fall of the first wicket as early as in the second over, put up a determined batting performance and held the middle-order together despite the fall of wickets from the other end at regular intervals.
His maiden LPL half-century came in 41 balls with the help of one six and seven boundaries and he was eventually dismissed by the off-spinner, Shehan Jayasuriya in the 16th over with the score at 112 for six.
But the major damage was done by Sri Lanka’s left-arm spinner Lakshan Sandakan who captured the vital wickets of Skipper, Angelo Mathews, Andre Russell and Ashan Priyanjan during an outstanding spell of bowling.
In fact, the Kings collapsed to 126 for eight in the 18th over before all-rounder, Isuru Udana provided some momentum to the Kings’ innings while hoisting one six and stroking a boundary during a cameo 19 runs from 11 deliveries.
Chief scores
Colombo Kings: 150/9 in 20 overs (Daniel Bell-Drummond 70, Nuwan Thushara 2/27, Dhananjaya Lakshan 2/27, Lakshan Sandakan 3/32)
Galle Gladiators: 151/8 in 19.5 overs (Bhanuka Rajapaksa 33, Azam Khan 21, Shehan Jayasuriya 22, Dhananjaya Lakshan 31 n.o, Ashan Priyanjan 2/42).
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