In the 12th game of the Lanka Premier League 2022, Colombo Stars faced Galle Gladiators in a high scoring thriller which had an aggregate of 390 runs. Stars who just fell short of chasing their target the day before, this time managed to reach home in the final ball of their innings to register a second win in five games.
Stars skipper Angelo Mathews who won the toss, decided to chase at Pallekele once again. Gladiators opening pair captain Kusal Mendis and Thanuka Dabare stitched a 51 run stand for the first wicket as Dabare continued his fine form with a quickfire 33 from 22. Then another 49 run stand was constructed by Mendis who was joined by Lahiru Udara who followed in the same pattern of Dabare with a cameo in quick time of 24 from 14.
The experienced Pakistani batter Asad Shafiq then combined with Mendis as the pair put together 88 runs for the 3rd wicket in 46 deliveries. Both the batters passed the 50 run mark during the partnership as Mendis reached the milestone in 39 balls while Shafiq crossed it in 30. The 3rd wicket partnership ended with the score on 188 and the Gladiators ended 193 for the loss of 5 wickets in their 20 overs.
Captain Mendis top scored for his team with a fabulous 72 from 49 balls which included 5 fours and 4 sixes. Shafiq the other half centurion made 58 from 33 scoring 7 fours and a solitary six. Afghan pacer Naveen ul Haq was the pick of the bowlers for Stars with figures of 2 for 33.
Chasing 194 to win, Stars made a tweak to their batting order once again as the former Sri Lankan skipper opened the innings with Niroshan Dickwella. Although Dickwella fell early, Chandimal looked like he was in a different mood today as he was playing with much more freedom. Charith Asalanka who was also having a tough time with the bat in hand played the anchor role in a partnership of 92 between the two batters. Chandimal who made 50 off 25 balls departed for 63 from 33 with 6 fours and 3 sixes.
Asalanka who started to free his hands after Chandimal’s dismissal also got out a few overs later for 46 from 38. After Stars lost 2 wickets in 2 overs, requiring 73 from 35, Benny Howell once again came to their rescue with an explosive came of 22 off 9. The highly experienced Ravi Bopara who came out to bat after that was in full flow and started hammering the Gladiators all over the ground making a fiery 31 off 12 which included 5 fours and a six.
Seekkuge Prasanna also contributed with two gigantic blows over the boundary just at the end but it was Bopara who scored a boundary over mid wicket in the last ball to take Stars home and register a much needed win. Bopara was adjudged player of the match for his knock in the backend of the run chase. Nuwan Thusara although ended up on the losing side bowled brilliantly taking 3 for 29 for the Gladiators.
Result
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thanuka Dabare | c Charith Asalanka b Seekkuge Prasanna | 33 | 22 | 4 | 1 | 150.00 |
| Kusal Mendis | b Naveen Ul Haq | 72 | 49 | 5 | 4 | 146.94 |
| Lahiru Udara | c Niroshan Dickwella b Kasun Rajitha | 24 | 14 | 2 | 1 | 171.43 |
| Asad Shafiq | c Benny Howell b Naveen Ul Haq | 58 | 33 | 7 | 1 | 175.76 |
| Anwar Ali | run out (Naveen Ul Haq) | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 50.00 |
| Imad Wasim | not out | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Extras | 5 (b 1 , lb 1 , nb 1, w 2, pen 0) |
| Total | 193/5 (20 Overs, RR: 9.65) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kasun Rajitha | 4 | 0 | 32 | 1 | 8.00 | |
| Naveen Ul Haq | 4 | 0 | 33 | 2 | 8.25 | |
| Dominic Drakes | 3 | 0 | 40 | 0 | 13.33 | |
| Benny Howell | 3 | 0 | 33 | 0 | 11.00 | |
| Seekkuge Prasanna | 3 | 0 | 22 | 1 | 7.33 | |
| Muditha Lakshan | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 10.00 | |
| Ravi Bopara | 1 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 11.00 | |
| Batsmen | R | B | 4s | 6s | SR | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Niroshan Dickwella | b Nuwan Thushara | 2 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 33.33 |
| Dinesh Chandimal | c Lakshan Sandakan b Wahab Riaz | 63 | 33 | 6 | 3 | 190.91 |
| Charith Asalanka | c Asad Shafiq b Anwar Ali | 46 | 38 | 3 | 2 | 121.05 |
| Angelo Mathews | c Anwar Ali b Nuwan Thushara | 7 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 58.33 |
| Dominic Drakes | run out (Kusal Mendis) | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Benny Howell | c Anwar Ali b Nuwan Thushara | 22 | 9 | 3 | 1 | 244.44 |
| Ravi Bopara | not out | 31 | 12 | 5 | 1 | 258.33 |
| Seekkuge Prasanna | c Asad Shafiq b Anwar Ali | 14 | 6 | 0 | 2 | 233.33 |
| Muditha Lakshan | c Lakshan Sandakan b Anwar Ali | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0.00 |
| Kasun Rajitha | not out | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 100.00 |
| Extras | 11 (b 6 , lb 0 , nb 0, w 5, pen 0) |
| Total | 197/8 (20 Overs, RR: 9.85) |
| Bowling | O | M | R | W | Econ | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Imad Wasim | 4 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 5.00 | |
| Nuwan Thushara | 4 | 0 | 29 | 3 | 7.25 | |
| Wahab Riaz | 4 | 0 | 61 | 1 | 15.25 | |
| Anwar Ali | 4 | 0 | 44 | 3 | 11.00 | |
| Lakshan Sandakan | 4 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 9.25 | |
