Galle Gladiators-Dambulla Giants match ends in no result

The LPL match between Galle Gladiators and Dambulla Giants ended in a no-result at the R. Premadasa Stadium yesterday. Both teams were given one point each to share five points each after four matches, but Gladiators are still on top of the points table with the highest run rate of 0.762.

Dambulla Giants chose to bat first scoring 159 runs for seven wickets in 20 overs when rain halted the game. Galle Gladiators was 18 in 1.2 overs. Openers Kusal Mendis (15) and Dhanushka Gunatilleke (3) were at the wicket. The game was officially called off at 6.30 pm.

Earlier, Dambulla Giants openers Niroshan Dikwella and Phil Salt made a quick start by adding 21 runs stand in just 2.1 overs, while Salt, with two half-centuries already under his belt, once again, started with an aggressive mood scoring 20 in 12 balls with 4 boundaries, while the first breakthrough was made by paceman Nuwan Thushara and Kusal Mendis, took the catch at point to dismiss Salt, which was early the prize wicket for Galle Gladiators.

At one stage, Dambulla Giants were 79 for 5 wickets in 11.2 overs, but skipper Dasun Shanaka (37 in 32 balls with 3 fours and six) and Ramesh Mendis repaired the innings by adding a 45-run sixth-wicket stand. Shanaka was dismissed by Dhananjaya Lakshan in the 18th over, while Mendis made an unbeaten 33 in 23 balls striking 3 fours and a six to get their total 159 for seven wickets in their allotted 20 overs.

Chief scores

Dambulla Giants: 159/7 in 20 overs (Niroshan Dikwella 30, Phil Salt 20, Dilshan Munaweera 12, Dasun Shanaka 37, Ramesh Mendis 33*, Chamika Karunaratne 13, Nuwan Thushara 2/24,Noor Ahmad 2/24)

Galle Gladiators: 18/0 in 1.2 overs (Kusal Mendis 15*, Dhanushka Gunatilleke 3*)