Danushka Gunathilaka’s brilliant 82 for Galle Gladiators was in vain as the Kandy Tuskers cruised to a convincing 25-run victory in their Lanka Premier League (LPL) T20 Cricket Tournament match played under lights at the Mahinda Rajapaksa Stadium in Hambantota on Monday.
This was also the first win for the Kandy Tuskers in the tournament, which ends on December 16.
The 29-year-old elegant left-hander produced another magnificent batting performance and was seventh out having struck 13 boundaries and one six.
The Sri Lanka opening batsman kept the Gladiators’ hopes alive almost until the end after they had been set a challenging victory target of 196 runs.
But once Gunathilaka was dismissed in the 18th over, the Gladiators lost their only hope with no other batsmen able to make a significant contribution.
Earlier, the Tuskers launched a calculated attack on their opponents bowling with the entire top order contributing well towards their tally.
The best batting effort certainly came from middle order batsman Brendon Taylor who remained unbeaten on 51 from 35 deliveries having struck seven boundaries and one six.
The wicket-keeper batsman from Zimbabwe also added 65 valuable runs for the fourth-wicket along with Kamindu Mendis (28).
In addition, Kusal Mendis hammered an attacking 49 inclusive of four sixes and two boundaries.
Chief scores:
Kandy Tuskers: 196/5 in 20 overs (Kusal Perera 27, Kusal Mendis 49, Brendan Taylor 51 n.o, Kamindu Mendis 28, Lakshan Sandakan 2/41)
Galle Gladiators: 171/7 in 20 overs (Danushka Gunathilaka 82).
Pix courtesy SLC
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