Gladiators, Giants share points after washout

By Shehan Daniel at the R. Premadasa Stadium

The Galle Gladiators and the Dambulla Giants shared a point each after heavy rains wiped out any possibility of a result in their Lanka Premier League match at the R. Premadasa Stadium today.

The Gladiators had just about begun their chase of 160 when rains returned for a second time in the day – but where the first stoppage was short and led to no reduction in overs, the second was more heavier and prolonged, persisting well past the cut-off time for the resumption of the match.

With 18 runs in 1.2 overs, the Gladiators looked up for the chase.

Kusal Mendis pulled the first ball he faced for four and then unfurled a lovely lofted drive for six off the next delivery – though he was lucky that a miscue off the last ball of the first over landed before a fielder could reach it.

Danushka Gunathilaka was the other unbeaten batter at the eventual stoppage.

In between a productive Powerplay and a flurry of runsin the last three overs of the innings, the Dambulla Giants were restrained bysome disciplined bowling and helped by giving away their wickets, before ending their 20 overs on 159 for 7.

Dambulla opener Phil Salt looked ominous cracking four boundaries in the second over of the innings, but fell on the first ball of the next over, picking out Kusal Mendis at point.

Building from that start, Niroshan Dickwella struck four boundaries of his own, though spread across four overs, as the Giants ended the Powerplay on a healthy 53 for 1.

At the other end was a less fluent Dilshan Munaweera who contributed 12 runs in a 40-run partnership with Dickwella, brought to an end when Munaweera failed to clear the deep square leg fielder, the Giants’ score on 61.

Four runs later Dickwella was caught out byAfghan left-arm leg spinner Noor Ahmad, who was quick to see the batter down the wicket and adjust his length, for Ben Dunk to complete the stumping.

Ahmad added a second wicket in that over, bowling compatriot Najibullah Zadran, with the Gladiators slipping to 63 for 4 and struggling to score runs through the middle phase of the innings.

It continued a difficult spell for the Giants, who managed just two fours and a six before the first rain stoppage, with Ahmad, Samit Patel and Mohammad Hafeez who conceded just 46 runs in 9 overs between them in the post-Powerplay overs.

The Giants came out the better following the first break in play, scoring 42 runs over the last three overs.

Key to that was late surge was Ramesh Mendis who scored 33 in 23 deliveries, 13 of those runs coming in the last over of the innings.