Lanka Premier League 2021, Qualifier 1: Galle Gladiators reach final again, thrash Jaffna Kings

Galle Gladiators reached the final of the Lanka Premier League for successive seasons after beating defending champions Jaffna Kings by 64 runs in Qualifier 1 of the 2021 edition. They knocked over the Kings for 124 in 16.5 overs after asking them to chase 189.

Kusal Mendis and Danushka Gunathilaka set the tone for the Gladiators after Thisara Perera won the toss and asked them to bat. They added 121 in 80 balls before Gunathilaka (55) was cleaned up by Thisara in the 14th over. Anwar Ali (12), promoted as No. 3, did not last long, as the Gladiators were 147/2 in 15.5 overs.

Mendis and Bhanuka Rajapaksa (25 in 15) carried the momentum, and took the Gladiators to 188/5, their highest total of the season. Mendis top-scored with a 53-ball 85, with four sixes and seven sixes, and was adjudged Player of the Match.

The Kings used six bowlers, all of whom went for over eight and a half an over. Thisara and Wahab Riaz scalped two wickets apiece, while Suranga Lakmal returned 1-29.

Avishka Fernando started the Kings innings with a six off Mohammad Amir, but Amir had his revenge on the next ball. Rahmanullah Gurbaz mashed three sixes and four fours in his 37-ball 59, but wickets kept falling around him in regular intervals.

Wanindu Hasaranga's onslaught (29 in 15) came too late in the night. Apart from him and Gurbaz, no one reached double digits. Nuwan Thushara took the last three Kings’ wickets in the final over to finish with figures of 3.5-0-13-5.

The Kings will now meet Dambulla Giants in Qualifier 2, on 21 December in Hambantota.

Brief scores: Galle Gladiators 188/5 in 20 overs (Mendis 85; Thisara 2-36) beat Jaffna Kings 124 in 16.5 overs (Gurbaz 59; Thushara 5-13) by 64 runs. Player of the Match: Kusal Mendis.