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Dhananjaya Lakshan produced a magnificent all-round performance under pressure to give Galle Gladiators a thrilling two-wicket win over Colombo Kings in the first semi-final of the My11Circle LPL played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium yesterday
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Galle Gladiators reached the final of the My11Circle Lanka Premier League with a thrilling two-wicket win off the penultimate ball against a limping Colombo Kings in the first semi-final played at the Mahinda Rajapaksa International Cricket Stadium yesterday.
In a match that swayed from one side to the other Galle managed to eventually overhaul Colombo’s moderate total of 150-9 scoring 151-8 with Lakshan Sandakan providing the final knockout blow by lofting Isuru Udana over mid-off for four to signal joyous scenes in the Galle camp.
That Galle won this contest without the help of the tournament’s leading run scorer Danushka Gunathilaka who was dismissed for 13, showed they had several other match-winners in their line-up, none other than the fast improving 22-year-old Dhananjaya Lakshan who came up with an exceptional performance under pressure taking two wickets for 27 and then scoring an unbeaten 31 off 23 balls to seal the match and pick up the Man of the Match award.
Lakshan arrived at the wicket with Galle in a bit of disarray at 98-6 after 13 overs, and despite losing experienced players Shehan Jayasuriya and Mohammad Amir kept a cool head to see his team through to the final.
The semi-final did not reach any great heights despite the thrilling finish with both sides guilty of spilling catches, poor running between wickets and batsmanship not of the highest quality. However, this mixed bag provided for an enthralling contest.
When Galle kept Colombo down to a total of 150-9, it seemed a cake walk for them into the final. But on a pitch offering swing Colombo fought back to have Galle three down for 57 at the end of the first power play. What paid off in the end for Galle was their excellent run rate which they maintained despite the constant fall of wickets for when it came to the crunch situation their batsmen were not under any immense pressure to deliver.
Skipper Bhanuka Rajapaksa shored up their top order with a pleasing 33 off 19 balls, which happened to be the highest made in the innings.
Colombo were handicapped to a great degree initially by the loss of their free scoring opener Laurie Evans who had to sit out the match due to an abdominal strain sustained during their last game against Dambulla Viiking. Colombo really missed his presence at the top to give them a head start to their innings.
Worse was to follow for Colombo when Andre Russell failed to take the field when Galle began their run chase. It was reported that he had slipped inside the dressing room and hurt himself. Then skipper Angelo Mathews pulled up with the tightening of his right hamstring in his fourth over and left the field with Dushmantha Chameera completing the over.
Colombo continued to lose more bowling options when Isuru Udana hurt himself on the outfield trying to stop a boundary. He struggled to complete his remaining two overs bowled at a slower pace which was to the advantage of Galle.
Despite these setbacks Colombo could have easily pulled off a win had Qais Ahmed, their hero in the last game against Dambulla Viiking, not dropped two easy catches in the final two overs that let Galle off the hook.
The only player to stand out for Colombo was Englishman Daniel Bell-Drummond who rode his luck to make a top score of 70 off 53 balls surviving three chances – two catches and a run out before eventually losing his wicket in the 16th over.
Lakshan and Sandakan did the main damage to the Colombo batting picking up five wickets between them in the middle overs after Nuwan Thushara had given them the early breakthrough by dismissing Lahiru Udara, the replacement for Evans in the second over for one.
Angelo Mathews, the losing captain, described the day as “terrible”. “We had a terrible day in all three departments. We dropped about five or six catches today and that doesn’t do any good when you’re defending 150. I am not even sure if we could’ve had 11 on the field if we made the final.”
Winning captain Bhanuka Rajapaksa described the win as a “miracle” and praised the effort of Dhananjaya Lakshan. “Credit goes to Lakshan he showed a lot of maturity and eventually we came through. Our bowling set the tone for us. We had to take responsibility as seniors because it’s a very young side.”
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