Match 10, Colombo, December 11, 2021, 03:00 PM
Galle Gladiators
127/7(20.0ov)
Kandy Warriors
131/5(18.4ov)
Kandy Warriors beat Galle Gladiators by 5 wickets
Best Batsmen
R
B
4S
6S
SR
Best Bowler
O
R
W
Econ
Man of the Match
Ravi Bopara
Commentry
Right then! That is it from this game. The action continues though as we have another match lined up for you as Colombo Stars will take on Dambulla Giants at 1930 Local (1400 GMT). So switch the tabs and do join us for the same. Until then, Adios!
Angelo Perera, the skipper of Kandy Warriors says that they are delighted. States that they were close in the first three games but failed to cross the line. Adds that he is happy for Bopara and Moores to help and finish the game.
Bhanuka Rajapaksa, the skipper of Galle Gladiators, says that they were 10-15 runs short and it was a tough wicket to bat on. Mentions that Hafeez was not fit enough to play so they had to find his replacement but hopes that he will be back for the next match.
Ravi Bopara is the Player of the Match, he says that it was a tough wicket and they had only one purpose, which was to win the match no matter what. Mentions that their strategy was to rotate the strike as they knew boundaries will come. Tells that coming from T10 to T20 is a good change.
... The Presentation ...
Galle Gladiators bowlers' did well to stretch the game till the end. With just 127 on the board, it always looked difficult to win from that point but they came close. The Gladiators started with picking wickets at regular intervals but one partnership took the game away from them. Samit Patel has been incredible for them as he picked two wickets and chipped with valuable runs early on but came on the losing side. 10-20 runs more and they could have given a tough fight.
A comfortable win in the end for Kandy Warriors. they looked a bit shaky at the start but the partnership of Tom Moores and Ravi Bopara did the job. The former fell in the fag end but Bopara made sure to take his team over the line. They had a nervy start as wickets were falling at one side while Charith Asalanka was scoring swiftly but he too perished later. Kandy Warriors were 56/4 and they needed a big partnership. Bopara and Moores joined hands and helped to steady the ship and ended on a positive note.
Kandy Warriors finally open their account and also more importantly stay alive in the tournament. A big win for them and they will look to continue this momentum as every match is a do-or-die from now on. They jump to fourth on the points table, thanks to a better net run rate.
In over# 19
4
1
0
4
Nuwan Thushara 31/1(3.4)
18.4
4
FOUR! Bopara gets the winning runs! Short of a length, on middle. Ravi Bopara stands tall and pulls it to deep square leg for a boundary. Kandy Warriors win by 5 wickets!
18.3
1
Back of a length, on leg. Tickled to fine leg for one. Scores level now!
18.2
.
Slower ball, around off. Minod Bhanuka looks for the glory shot as he swings his blade hard at it but fails to connect.
18.1
4
FOUR! Put away! Length ball, on the pads. Minod Bhanuka whips it away to deep square leg for a boundary. Kandy Warriors just one hit away now from getting their first win.
Who will bowl the penultimate over? It is Nuwan Thushara.
In over# 18
1
1
0
1
1
0
Dhananjaya Lakshan 20/1(3)
17.6
1
This is pulled to deep mid-wicket for a single.
17.5
1
Slower delivery, on middle. Ravi Bopara works past square leg for a single.
17.4
.
Short ball, on middle. Ravi Bopara looks to pull but misses.
17.3
1
Short and outside off. Minod flat-bats it to sweeper cover for a run.