Galle Marvels keep unbeaten record intact with win over Colombo Strikers

Galle Marvels pair Sahan Arachchige and Isuru Udana set up a new LPL seventh wicket record of 85

Galle Marvels skipper Niroshan Dickwella scored the third fastest LPL 50 off 17 balls

Shadab Khan was once again amongst the wickets for Colombo Strikers with 4/21

By Sa’adi Thawfeeq

Galle Marvels kept their 100% record intact when they pulled off a thrilling seven-run win over Colombo Strikers in the second double-header of the Lanka Premier League played at the Pallekele Cricket Stadium yesterday.

Galle defended their total of 179 by keeping down Colombo to a score of 172-9 despite a valiant effort by Dunith Wellalage (45 off 26 balls, 5 fours, 2 sixes) to try and swing the game Colombo’s way.

The experienced Isuru Udana who was brought at a princely sum by Galle justified his buying with a splendid all-round performance to pick up the Player of the Match award. He scored a vital half-century to revive his side’s ailing innings and then with the ball bowled some crunch overs at the death to secure victory ending with figures of 2/34.

Colombo began the chase well with Rahmanullah Gurbaz, the leading run-getter in the T20 World Cup playing a cameo knock of 29 off 17 balls (3 sixes), but they kept losing wickets as Galle kept things tight through the middle overs, so that Colombo had to do too much at the death to cross the line. The spin of Sahan Arachchige proved a vital factor in Colombo falling back on the run rate as he picked up the crucial wickets of Glenn Phillips and Thisara Perera conceding 21 runs in his four overs.   

Earlier, Niroshan Dickwella played an excellent knock in the power play scoring the third fastest 50 in LPL off 17 balls (6 fours, 3 sixes). However, once the Galle skipper was dismissed, Shadab Khan broke the opposition’s spine by picking wickets in quick succession. From 72-1 at the end of the first power play, Galle slid to 93-5 at the halfway mark. The leg-spinner took four wickets and almost trapped Isuru Udana lbw, however, the umpire’s call came to the batter’s rescue. Udana could have been out for a duck had the on-field call been out, but the lower-order batter ended up playing an impactful knock of 52 off 34 balls (5 fours, 3 sixes) and had a fine 85-run partnership off 51 balls with Sahan Arachchige (35 off 27) which was a new record for the 7th wicket. The fielding and catching of Colombo was poor. Had they latched on to their chances and not misfielded, they might have restricted the opposition to 120-130. In the end they had only themselves to blame for the defeat.

Today is a rest day and the tournament moves onto Dambulla where it continues with Galle Marvels 

meeting Jaffna Kings on Friday at 7:30 pm.

Scores: Galle Marvels 179 (20) (Niroshan Dickwella 50, Sahan Arachchige 35, Isuru Udana 52, Binura Fernando 3/22, Shadab Khan 4/21)

Colombo Strikers 172-9 (20) (Rahmanullah Gurbaz 29, Glenn Phillips 26, Dunith Wellalage 45, Maheesh Theekshana 2/20, Isuru Udana 2/34, Sahan Arachchige 2/21)