Jaffna Kings vs Galle Gladiators Archives

Bowlers drive Jaffna Kings to second LPL title

HAMBANTOTA: Jaffna Kings’ bowlers held their nerves to guide their side to win the second season of Lanka Premier League (LPL); defeating Galle Gladiators by 23 runs in the final.

Chasing 202, the Gladiators had a superb start to their innings, with their openers recording a quickfire 63-runs partnership. the pair appeared too solid for the Kings’ bowlers, but, Danushka Gunathilaka departed after a quickfire 54 off 21 balls, laced with seven boundaries and three sixes.

After Gunathilaka’s dismissal, Ben Dunk bagged a golden duck on the very next ball. Mohammad Hafeez and Kusal Mendis then partnered brilliantly, but, briefly. Both Hafeez and Mendis lost their wickets in a mix-up, running between the wickets. Hafeez scored 10, while Mendis managed to score 39 off 28 balls, including three boundaries and a six.

Following their dismissal, the Gladiators lost their way, with none of their batters could go big at the depth, the side, eventually, restricted to 178/9 in their allotted 20 overs; losing the match by 23 runs.

For the Kings, Chaturanga de Silva and Wanindu Hasaranga de Silva each claimed two wickets, while Suranga Lakmal, Jayden Seales, and Maheesh Theekshana, shared one wicket apiece.

Batting first, the Kings’ batters displayed combined batting effort to achieve a commendable total of 201 in 20 overs. Openers, Rahmanullah Gurbaz and Avishka Fernando provided a powerful start to their side. Gurbaz, who was smashing the ball over the park, departed early after scoring quickfire 35 off just 18 balls, laced with three boundaries and as many sixes.

Tom Kohler-Cadmore then joined Fernando, both the batters scored half-centuries and recorded an astonishing partnership of 64-runs. Fernando departed after scoring 63 off 41 balls, he smashed eight boundaries and two sixes. Kohler-Cadmore, however, remained not-out with 57 off 41 balls, laced with two boundaries and three sixes.

Shoaib Malik and Thisara Perera also chipped in, down the order. Malik scored a valuable 23 off just 11 balls, while Perera scored 17 off just nine.

For the Gladiators, Mohammad Amir, Nuwan Thushara, and Samit Patel, each struck out a batter.

READ: Jaffna Kings crush Dambulla Giants, advances to the LPL final

Thushara’s five-fer guides Gladiators to the LPL final

COLOMBO: Galle Gladiators’ batters put on a show; posting 188/5, followed by Nuwan Thushara’s five-fer; assisting the side to thump Jaffna Kings in the first qualifier of Lanka Premier League (LPL).

Thushara’s match winning bowling figures of 5/14, made the proceedings easier for the Gladiators, who thumped the Kings by a massive 64 runs, booking their place in the final of the LPL season 2.

Chasing 189, the Kings started brilliantly, with a six off the first ball, but, Mohammad Amir roared back at Avishka Fernando; dismissing him the next ball. The batter scored six off two deliveries.

Following his dismissal, Rahmanullah Gurbaz, tried to anchor the innings, but found no one by his side, doing so. The Kings, kept losing wicket at a consistent rate; being eventually, bowled out for a paltry 129 in the 17th over. Gurbaz top-scored with a valiant 59 off 37 balls; smashing four boundaries and three sixes.

For the Gladiators, Thushara claimed three wickets, while Amir, Isuru Udana, Pulina Tharanga, and Anwar Ali, each took a wicket.

Batting first, the Gladiators’ openers, provided an eye-catching start to the side, with both scoring half-centuries; the pair added an impressive 121-runs partnership. Danushka Gunathilaka departed after scoring 55 off just 42 balls; smashing six boundaries and a maximum.

Kusal Mendis, on the other hand, was even more sound; scoring 85 off just 53 balls, laced with seven boundaries and four sixes, Mendis remained the top-scorer for the Gladiators.

The rest of their batters, also chipped in with significance, assisting the side to post a commendable total on the board.

For the Kings, Wahab Riaz and Thisara Perera each took two wickets, while Suranga Lakmal struck out a batter.

With this victory, the Gladiators have advanced into the final, while the Kings will now face Dambulla Giants in the second qualifier of the event, tomorrow.

READ: Dambulla Giants knock out Colombo Stars from LPL

Bowlers power Gladiators to the LPL’s Play-Offs

COLOMBO: Galle Gladiators’ bowlers annihilated Jaffna Kings’ batting line-up; dismissing them for 109 to power their side to the Play-offs of the Lanka Premier League (LPL).

The Kings, chasing 130, struggled throughout the innings, with none of their batter able to go deep. The side, eventually, bowled out for a paltry 109; losing the match by 20 runs.

Rahmanullah Gurbaz scored 21 off 15 balls, followed by the top-scorer for the Kings, Shoaib Malik, who score 23 off 27 balls.

Gladiators’s bowlers, on the other hand, were on song. Their combined bowling effort helped their side thump their opposition by 20 runs; booking their place in the play-offs. Noor Ahmed and Samit Patel, each dismissed two batters. Whereas, Mohammad Amir, Mohammad Hafeez, and Sahan Arachchige shared one wicket apiece.

Batting first, the Gladiators, too, could not make an impact with the bat; being able to score just 129/8 in their allotted 20 overs.

For Gladiators, Danushka Gunathilaka scored 19 off 32 balls, followed by their top-scorer of the match, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, who scored 23 off 25 balls. Both the batters could smash only one boundary.

For the Kings, Wahab Riaz, Praveen Jayawickrama, and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth each bagged two wickets, while Shoaib Malik struck out a batter.

Following this victory, the Gladiators have booked their place in the play-offs, while the Kings have already qualified; finishing at top of the points table.

READ: Kohler-Cadmore, Seales guide Kings to victory in LPL

Rajapaksa, Samit drive Gladiators to victory in Lanka Premier League’s opener

COLOMBO: Bhanuka Rajapaksa’s fifty and Samit Patel’s all-round performance helped Galle Gladiators beat Jaffna Kings by 54 runs in the opening match of Lanka Premier League season 2 here at R Premadasa Stadium on Sunday.

Rajapaksa and Samit played sensible knocks to help the side amassed a decent 164-run total in the allotted 20 overs. Rajapaksa smashed 56 runs off 31 balls including six boundaries and three maximums, while Henriques scored 42 off 31 balls, including six boundaries.

Earlier, Gladiators were off to a poor start as the side lost first three wickets for a mere 41 runs. The rest of the Gladiators batters were unable to make significant contribution into the total.

Jayden Seales bagged three wickets for Kings, while Wanindu Hasaranga claimed two. Suranga Lakmal and Maheesh Theekshana, on the other hand, each struck out a batter.

In response, Gladiators bowling attack trapped Kings batters completely. None of their batters were able to go deep and get the side into the winning position. Kings, in the end, were bowled out for just 110 in the 19th over. Upul Tharanga scored 17 followed by highest run-scorer of the side, Wahab Riaz with 27 runs.

Samit claimed three wickets. Mohammad Hafeez and Pulina Thatanga claimed two wickets apiece. Whereas, Lahiru Madushanka, Noor Ahmad and Nuwan Thushara each struck out a batter.

For his all-round performance, Samit was adjudged as the player of the match.

READ: Sixers thump Stars to start Big Bash League on a winning note