By M. Shamil Amit

Galle Gallants bounced back in style to record their third victory of the Lanka Premier League T20 tournament with a comfortable 60-run win over Jaffna Kings in the tenth match played under floodlights at the Rangiri Dambulla Stadium yesterday.
Chasing a challenging target of 194, Jaffna Kings were never able to gain control of the run chase.
They lost their first five wickets with only 50 runs on the board by the seventh over and failed to recover from the early setbacks. Dunith Wellalage offered some resistance with a fighting knock of 56, but the remaining batters failed to provide him with adequate support as Jaffna Kings were bowled out for 133 in 17.5 overs.
Tharindu Ratnayake and Eshan Malinga were the chief destroyers, claiming three wickets each, while Akif Javed, Dasun Shanaka and Vijayakanth Viyaskanth picked up one wicket apiece.
Earlier, Galle Gallants, who were put into bat, found themselves in early trouble after losing opener Sam Harper and Charith Asalanka inside the first three overs, with the score on 16.
Chris Lynn and Chamika Karunaratne then steadied the innings with a 48-run partnership for the third wicket. Lynn, in particular, batted with confidence and struck 46 off just 22 deliveries, including three boundaries and four sixes, before falling to Lizaad Williams.
Karunaratne was also dismissed by Williams soon afterwards, leaving the Gallants in a difficult position at 65 for four.
Sahan Arachchige then anchored the recovery and received valuable support from Mohammad Nawaz. The pair frustrated the Jaffna Kings bowlers with a rapid 68-run partnership from only 30 deliveries.
Arachchige reached his half-century in 30 balls, while Nawaz contributed a brisk 27 off 16 deliveries before being dismissed by Dilshan Madushanka.
Arachchige was run out from the final delivery of the innings after an impressive 63 off 36 balls, which included four boundaries and three sixes, as Galle Gallants finished on a commanding 193 for eight.