Pakistan duo Mohammad Amir, Ahsan Ali hand Galle Gladiators maiden win in LPL 2020
Amir took 5 for 26 while Ahsan struck a 38-ball 56 against Colombo Kings in Lanka Premier League
Amir took 5 for 26 while Ahsan struck a 38-ball 56 against Colombo Kings in Lanka Premier League
Scorer: Binoy George | Commentator: @afidelf
That's it for our coverage from what seems like the biggest upset of the tournament so far. Don't go too far though. Peter Della Penna will be firing up the ball-by-ball for Jaffna Stallions v Dambulla Viiking shortly.
Mohammad Amir is Player of the Match for his 5/26: "We were under pressure, but we are responding very well now. Sandakan is bowling well and using his variations well. Whenever we need him, he is delivering for us."
Bhanuka Rajapaksa: "It's great to get that first win. It was an all-round performance. It was important to get wickets through the middle overs, and Amir and Sandakan did that. Special mention to Nuwan Thushara as well who did well in his first game."
Angelo Mathews: "We weren't up to the mark today. The intensity and attitude hasn't been great. We were 20 or 30 runs short. The batters are going well, except for me. Hopefully I can contribute in the rest of the tournament."
***
Excuse me, but where has this Galle Gladiators side been all tournament? There was none of the flatness in the field we saw from them in the last match. And their bowling was substantially better, with Amir leading the way with a tournament-best performance, while Lakshan Sandakan struck key blows through the middle overs. Nuwan Thushara, the round-arm Malinga-style slinger, had a good debut outing too, and together they kept Kings to a total that seemed sub-par.
Gunathilaka and Ahsan Ali then laid the foundations for the chase with their 97-run opening stand off 63 deliveries. From there, it was pretty straightforward. Rajapaksa found some for m for the first time, and Azam Khan hit some big blows. In the end, this match wasn't even close to being close.
Kings are one of the tournament favourites. Gladiators have been pathetic so far. And yet, they seem to have some new life in them. Can they make a charge through the back end of this tournament? Despite five losses to start, they are still in it.
ASADULLAH: "ICC should take an action on the selection of boundries,beacuse its very small,should be the less size of 75METERS for the international cricket and for leagues also." The boundaries are not THAT short. It's just that Hambantota has an enormous playing area (about 100 metres), and they've pulled the ropes in.
Prasad is back.
Amir took 5 for 26 while Ahsan struck a 38-ball 56 against Colombo Kings in Lanka Premier League
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