Galle Marvels beat Jaffna Kings in last ball thriller

Alex Hales hit a splendid 65 off 47 balls for Galle Marvels to take Player of the Match award 

Galle Marvels pulled off a last ball five-wicket win over Jaffna Kings in the first double-header of the day played at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Under pressure, Sahan Arachchige, the Galle number seven facing only his second ball, played a final ball scoop for four to take Galle home chasing a sizeable target of 178 on a slow surface.

Niroshan Dickwella and Alex Hales played fantastic knocks at the top. Dickwella got Galle off to a perfect start with a scorching 47 off 27 balls (8 fours, 1 six), and Player of the Match Hales kept the momentum going with a splendid 65 off 47 balls (7 fours, 2 sixes). 

Although they lost a few wickets in the middle overs with Jaffna hitting through Fabian Allen who struck twice, the rest of the batters managed to keep the required run rate in check. Janith Liyanage played a cameo towards the end overs (25 off 13 balls) and just when things were looking bleak, Arachchige finished things off in style. 

Allen and Asitha Fernando bagged a couple of wickets, however, Dhananjaya de Silva bowled the most economical spell by conceding only 16 runs in four overs.

Earlier in the day, fifties by Pathum Nissanka (51 off 33 balls, 6 fours, 2 sixes) and Avishka Fernando (59 off 48 balls, 7 fours, 1 six) powered Jaffna Kings to a competitive total with a stand of 81. Nissanka’s dismissal triggered a mini-collapse with three wickets going down cheaply, but skipper Charith Asalanka came and played a blinder, hitting the ball to all parts of the ground (33 off 15 balls, 3 fours, 2 sixes) to give Galle the much needed impetus towards the end. Isuru Udana suffered the most, conceding 60 runs from his four overs that included five fours and four sixes.

Scores: 

Jaffna Kings 177-7 (20) (Pathum Nissanka 51, Avishka Fernando 59, Charith Asalanka 33, Dwaine Pretorius 2/23, Isuru Udana 2/60, Zahoor Khan 3/34)

Galle Marvels 179-5 (20) (Niroshan Dickwella 47, Alex Hales 65, Janith Liyanage 25, Asitha Fernando 2/40, Fabian Allen 2/33)