Defending champions Jaffna Kings got off to a superb start as they defended 137 runs to win the curtain-raiser of the third edition of Lanka Premier League tournament against Galle Gladiators at Suriywawewa yesterday. Jaffna Kings managed only 137 runs batting first but their bowling was too good as they bowled out Galle Gladiators for 113.
Seamer Binura Fernando who returned home from Australia halfway through the ICC Men’s T-20 World Cup with a hamstring injury picked up three wickets for 22 runs while leggie Vijayakanth Viyaskanth picked up two for 20.
Galle Gladiators got off to a good start with openers Kusal Mendis and Nuwanidu Fernando adding 58 runs for the first wicket in 45 balls. Mendis made the only half-century in the game posting a 43 ball 51 with five fours before being trapped leg before wicket by Maheesh Theekshana. His dismissal saw Galle Gladiators losing their way as they collapsed. At one stage they were 97 for four and needed 41 in 24 balls but lost their last six wickets for 16 runs to go down to the strongest team in the competition.
There was not much support for Mendis as the next best score was Imad Wasim’s 17. Mendis is leading the Galle Gladiators.
Shoaib Malik and Dunith Wellalage made 30 runs each for Jaffna while Dhananjaya de Silva posted 29 from 19 balls with three fours and two sixes.
Brief Scores:
Jaffna Kings
137 all out in 19.5 overs
(Dhananjaya de Silva 29, Dunith Wellalage 30, Shoaib Malik 30, Ifthikar Ahmed 2 for eight)
Galle Gladiators
113 all out in 20 overs (Kusal Mendis 51, Imad Wasim 17, Binura Fernando 3 for 22, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 2 for 20)