GM VS KF MATCH 14

Right then! The Galle Marvels get a huge win in terms of the tournament over the Kandy Falcons and will be happy with the way they have played in both innings. The Lanka Premier League is at a very interesting stage as there is still room at the top four for all the teams if they play well. The next encounter of the Lanka Premier League is between the Jaffna Kings vs Kandy Falcons on 13th July 2024, at 7.30 PM IST (2.00 pm GMT) but you can join us early as we bring you the pre-match excitement. Till then, have a good night!

The victorious skipper of Galle Marvels, Niroshan Dickwella says another win and a great outing for the side. Adds that they needed a change and going with three spinners worked out. Says they executed their plans well. Credits Prabath Jayasuriya for extracting spin and changing of pace of the game and bowling those quicker deliveries. Says that they were aiming for 10 points from this Dambulla leg but they are happy with what they got and they will take one game at a time.

Wanindu Hasaranga, the skipper of Kandy Falcons is up for a chat and says that the bowlers of Galle Marvels bowled really well after the start that they got from Andre Fletcher and Angelo Mathews that turned the game in their favor as they were looking at a score over 200. He then talks about leaking runs in the middle overs with the ball and the extras that came from their side allowed the batters to bat with no pressure and made it easy for them in the end.

Prabath Jayasuriya is the Player Of The Match. He is up for a quick chat and says this is his first LPL game and winning the game for his side is a great feeling. Adds T20 is a high-intensity game and as a player, they need to give their 100 percent to contribute to the winning cause.

... TIME FOR THE PRESENTATIONS ...

Earlier in the day, Kandy Falcons were invited to bat first and got off to a flying start. Andre Fletcher and Dinesh Chandimal laid a solid foundation with a 54-run partnership for the opening wicket. Chandimal was particularly aggressive, scoring a rapid 32 off just 14 balls before being dismissed. However, the middle order faltered, with Mohammad Haris and Kamindu Mendis failing to make an impact. Andre Fletcher anchored the innings, scoring a valuable 69 runs and reaching his fifty in style. Angelo Mathews provided support with 29 runs, but a sudden collapse saw Kandy lose three wickets in as many balls, thanks to a brilliant spell from Prabath Jayasuriya, who took two wickets in his last over. Ramesh Mendis then played a crucial cameo, scoring 28 off 14 balls, which helped Kandy cross the 180-run mark. Prabath Jayasuriya was the star with the ball for Galle Marvels, finishing with three wickets. Dwaine Pretorius also chipped in with two wickets, while Isuru Udana, Maheesh Theekshana, and Kavindu Nadeeshan each took one. This win cements Galle Marvels' position as a formidable team in the tournament, while Kandy Falcons will need to reassess their strategies moving forward. The Galle camp will be buoyed by this dominant performance and look to carry this momentum into their upcoming matches. Stay tuned for the presentation ceremony.

In pursuit of 187, Galle Marvels got off to a sensational start. Openers Niroshan Dickwella and Alex Hales attacked from the beginning, putting up a 76-run partnership. Dickwella scored a brisk 25 before being dismissed by his opposite number, Wanindu Hasaranga. Alex Hales, undeterred, continued to build the innings with Tim Seifert. However, Hasaranga's introduction of Andre Fletcher into the attack paid off as Fletcher managed to trap Seifert for 16, breaking the budding partnership. Despite the fall of Seifert, Alex Hales continued to dominate, ensuring Galle Marvels stayed ahead of the required rate. His unbeaten innings, supported by strong performances from the middle order, guided Galle Marvels to a convincing victory.

Well then, the Galle Marvels have sealed the game comfortably with 4 balls remaining, thanks to an unbeaten brilliance by Alex Hales who opened the batting and finished on 86 runs off 55 balls and along with him, the batter who came in and finished it off for his team, Bhanuka Rajapaksa scoring a not out 46 off just 26 balls. Kandy Falcons were in the game till the 12th over but this pair took the game away from them in no time. What a game of cricket. A comprehensive victory for Galle Marvels as they thumped Kandy Falcons by 8 wickets with 4 balls to spare. Kandy Falcons, despite setting a challenging target of 187, could not defend it as their bowlers leaked runs at regular intervals.

FOUR! Up and over the fielder at cover and Bhanuka Rajapaksa strikes the winning runs. Tossed up around off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa lofts this inside out and away for a boundary. Galle Marvels win this by 8 wickets.

Fuller around middle and leg, Alex Hales slogs this towards the fielder at deep mid-wicket for one.

FOUR! Clever batting from Bhanuka Rajapaksa and he eases off the pressure. On a length outside off, Rajapaksa uses the pace and the angle to a good effect and slices this over backward point.

Too full and wide of off, Alex Hales lofts this towards the fielders in the deep on off for one.

Full and wide outside off, Alex Hales swings and gets beaten.

Fuller on the off-stump line, Alex Hales drives this through cover for a couple.

On a length around off, Alex Hales defends this well.

Desperate review! Fletcher darts one fuller and quicker down the leg side, Bhanuka Rajapaksa looks to flick but misses. The keeper spills it too and they run a single. Wide signaled. The bowler though, feels the batter has clipped this and convinces his skipper for a review. Replays show that the ball had brushed off the pads of Rajapaksa and the decision of the wide is overturned. The Falcons lose a review but save a run, though one feels it was more to slow the game down.

LUCKY ESCAPE! Flighted delivery outside off, Bhanuka Rajapaksa jumps down the track, looking to take on the long on fielder. Gets a bottom edge rolling past the keeper and he takes a single. Had the ball not hit the bottom edge, it would have been an easy stumping opportunity.