A masterful batting display by Reeza Hendricks saw Dambulla Sixers beat Galle Giants by six wickets in the second game played at the Rangiri Dambulla Cricket Stadium yesterday, and end their unbeaten run in the Lanka Premier League tournament.
Galle Gallants was the only team to win their first two games played at the SSC, but a change of venue seems to have deserted their luck.
Coming at the fall of the first wicket at 26, Hendricks ensured that he remained till the end to see Dambulla Sixers home with 23 balls to spare. He paced the chase perfectly to remain unbeaten on a 37-ball 64 that comprised 9 fours and a six.
The key was Hendricks’ stand of 69 off 47 balls with Marques Ackerman (35 off 25). They were allowed to play with minimal risk due to the 29 off 11 balls cameo from Pavan Rathnayake. The finishing touches to the win was put by Gulbadin Naib who slammed 20* off six balls that included three sixes.
However, the key to Dambulla Sixers’ win was done earlier with the ball when they tied down Galle Gallants at the death, picking up four wickets for 28 in the final four overs. Fazalhaq Farooqi was the pick of the bowlers with 3/39 bowling at the death. Galle Gallants finished on 178-8, definitely below what they had been targeting when Chamika Karunaratne (45 off 30 balls, 4 fours, 2 sixes) and Dasun Shanaka (20 off 10, 1 four, 2 sixes) were going strong adding 43 off 25 balls.
Apart from Farooqi, Ackerman also played a key role by getting rid of Charith Asalanka for 25 to break a dangerous stand of 64 off 37 balls with Sam Harper (40 off 22 balls, 3 fours, 3 sixes). He also picked up the wicket of Sahan Arachchige for six in the middle overs that fetched 93 runs.
Hendricks was named Player of the Match.
Scores:
Galle Gallants 178-8 (20) (Sam Harper 40, Charith Asalanka 25, Chamika Karunaratne 45, Dasun Shanaka 20, Fazalhaq Farooqi 3/39, Marques Ackerman 2/27) vs. Dambulla Sixers 180-4 (16.1) (Reeza Hendricks 64*, Pavan Rathnayake 29, Marques Ackerman 35, Gulbadin Naib 20*)