Tuesday in the Lanka Premier League 2022, reigning champions Jaffna Kings easily defeated the Galle Gladiators to start their title defence.
The Jaffna Kings limited the Galle Gladiators to 113/9 in their 20 overs after being dismissed for 137.
Vijayakanth Viyaskanth (2/20) and Binura Fernando (3/22) were the bowlers of choice for the Jaffna Kings.
Kusal Mendis, the captain of the Gladiators, and Nuwanidu Fernando put up a first-innings partnership of 58 runs in 7.3 overs to get their team off to a strong start. However, the Gladiators kept dropping wickets at regular intervals after Wellalage dismissed Nuwanidu Fernando.
Kusal Mendis scored 51 runs off of 43 balls in his captain's innings, but the Gladiators were ultimately 24 runs short of their mark due to a lack of help from the other end.
Shoaib Malik and Dunith Wellalage had previously prepared the ground for the Jaffna Kings. While Wellalage scored 30 runs from 20 balls, Malik scored 30 runs from 27 balls, including two boundaries. Over the course of his time on the crease, he hit four boundaries.
Three boundaries and two sixes were part of Dhananjay de Silva's quick-fire inning of 29 runs from 19 balls. Imad Wasim, Wahab Riaz, Nuwan Thushara, Nuwan Pradeep, Pulina Tharanga, and Iftikhar Ahmed all took two wickets for the Gladiators.
Brief scores:
Jaffna Kings 137 all out in 19.5 overs (Dhananjaya de Silva 29, Shoaib Malik 30, Dunith Wellalage 30; Wahab Riaz 2-23, Imad Wasim 2-22, Nuwan Pradeep 2-23, Iftikhar Ahmed 2-8) beat Galle Gladiators 113 all out in 20 overs (Kusal Mendis 51; Binura Fernando 3-22, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth 2-20) by 24 runs