END OF OVER:
20 | 9 Runs 1 Wkt | GG: 153/6 | RR: 7.65

  • Imad Wasim15 (5b)
  • Chamika Karunaratne4-0-33-0
  • Zahoor Khan3-0-42-0

4:46pm Wow, that was some recovery by the Gladiators. They lost their first four wickets for 10 but then, a 113-run partnership restored order. Dabare and Nuwanidu notched up their maiden LPL fifties, and played an intelligent brand of cricket. They played out Hasaranga but were severe on the others, meaning that they then had a solid foundation to attack the death overs.

The Falcons, meanwhile, would not be happy that they allowed the Gladiators to get away, especially after reducing them to 10/4 in the powerplay. That said, there are not many demons in the surface and as Brathwaite said, they would be fancying their chances of hunting this down.

Carlos Brathwaite, who triggered a collapse at the start, feels that the Gladiators are about 15 runs short. He says the track is still good, and that they should chase it down

19.6
W
Karunaratne to Dabare, 1 run, OUT, back of a length delivery outside off stump. Dabare hangs back and powers it towards deep cover point. Dabare hares across for the second because he has no other option but is caught well short of his ground as Nissanka hits the stumps from the deep

PTM Dabare run out 70 (51b 6x4 2x6) SR: 137.25

19.5
2
Karunaratne to Dabare, 2 runs, length delivery outside off stump. Dabare walks a mile across his stumps and laps it past short fine leg for a couple of runs
19.4
4
Karunaratne to Dabare, FOUR, shot! Short, slow and way outside off stump. Dabare marches down the track and slams it over extra cover for another boundary
19.3
1
Karunaratne to Imad Wasim, 1 run, back of a length delivery at the stumps. Imad backs away and slaps it towards backward point. The fielder then fires an errant throw and it interests Imad enough to go for the overthrow. He is then sent back and makes his ground because of another poor throw. All happening here!
19.2
0
Karunaratne to Imad Wasim, no run, banged into the track outside off stump. Imad looks to heave it over cow corner but is late on the stroke and misses
19.1
1
Karunaratne to Dabare, 1 run, slower delivery on a length outside off stump. Dabare sits deep in his crease and drills it straight to the fielder at extra cover

Well, that last over has changed things. Only six runs needed to get to 150 now. 160 would be a good total on this track. Can the Gladiators get there? Karunaratne to bowl the final over

END OF OVER:
19 | 21 Runs | GG: 144/5 | RR: 7.57

  • Imad Wasim14 (3b)
  • Thanuka Dabare62 (47b)
  • Zahoor Khan3-0-42-0
  • Isuru Udana4-0-19-2
18.6
4
Zahoor Khan to Imad Wasim, FOUR, but does not make a difference! Short on middle and leg stump and crying out to be punished. Imad obliges by backing away and battering it through mid wicket

Over the wicket now

18.5
6
Zahoor Khan to Imad Wasim, SIX, six this time, what an effort though! In the slot outside off stump. Imad lays back in his crease and thumps it down to long off. Kamindu Mendis leaps into the air and tries to push it back in but fails to do so
18.4
4
Zahoor Khan to Imad Wasim, FOUR, four more! Slower delivery outside off stump that sits up to be hit. Imad camps in his crease and clubs it down to long off, where the fielder compounds the bowler's misery by misfielding it
18.3
1
Zahoor Khan to Dabare, 1 run, low full toss outside off stump. Dabare has a swing at it and chunks it off the inner half of the bat towards long on
18.2
2
Zahoor Khan to Dabare, 2 runs, dropped again, oh dear! Same shot, same fielder, same batter, and the same result. Short delivery and Dabare swings it away towards deep square leg, where Nissanka grasses the chance

Right. Zahoor must be feeling the pinch now. He has not had a great day so far and his final over has not begun that well either. Can the Gladiators take him down, or will he turn things around?

18.1
4
Zahoor Khan to Dabare, FOUR, full and wide outside off stump. Dabare throws his hands at it and slices it over backward point for a much-needed boundary

Imad Wasim is the new man in. Can he and Dabare take the Gladiators past 150? They still need 27 runs. Zahoor to bowl the penultimate over

END OF OVER:
18 | 3 Runs 1 Wkt | GG: 123/5 | RR: 6.83

  • Thanuka Dabare55 (44b)
  • Isuru Udana4-0-19-2
  • Chamika Karunaratne3-0-24-0
17.6
W
Udana to Fernando, OUT, that looks close, and it is given! But hang on, Nuwanidu has reviewed this! Slower yorker on leg stump that dips on the batter very late. It looks like Nuwanidu has not picked the variation and flicks at it too early. The ball goes past the bat and smashes into the pads, with the umpire also giving it out. No bat involved, and the ball has pitched in line as well. Going on to crash into the stumps! Nuwanidu has to depart!

MNK Fernando lbw b Udana 56 (50b 5x4 0x6) SR: 112.00

17.5
0
Udana to Fernando, no run, slower delivery on a back of a length just outside off stump. Nuwanidu has a massive swipe across the line but only connects with fresh air
17.4
1
Udana to Dabare, 1 run, off-pace delivery on a length outside off stump. Dabare hangs back and punches it to deep cover point for just another single
17.3
1
Udana to Fernando, 1 run, full delivery outside off stump. Nuwanidu comes forward and drives it crisply. He can't beat the fielder at extra cover, though. Just a single
17.2
0
Udana to Fernando, no run, slower delivery on a back of a length outside off stump that does not bounce at all. Nuwanidu swings and misses
17.1
1
Udana to Dabare, 1 run, low full toss fired into the batter's toes, despite him backing away. Dabare lets the ball arrive before flicking it towards deep square leg

Udana returns

Right. 3 overs left, how many can the Gladiators get? They would hope for 30 at least. Anything more than that, and it will be a bonus

END OF OVER:
17 | 8 Runs | GG: 120/4 | RR: 7.05

  • Thanuka Dabare53 (42b)
  • Nuwanidu Fernando55 (46b)
  • Chamika Karunaratne3-0-24-0
  • Wanindu Hasaranga4-0-23-0
16.6
1
Karunaratne to Dabare, 1 run, short delivery just outside off stump. Dabare gets onto the back foot and pulls it down the ground towards long on for one
16.5
4
Karunaratne to Dabare, FOUR, gets it away! Length delivery just outside off stump. Dabare shuffles across his stumps and scoops it past short fine leg for four

Only three runs off the over so far. Something could be about to give

16.4
1
Karunaratne to Fernando, 1 run, back of a length delivery outside off stump. Nuwanidu throws his hands at it and jabs it down to third man for one
16.3
1
Karunaratne to Dabare, 1 run, back of a length delivery just outside off stump. Dabare sits back and dabs it towards backward point for a single

Dabare looks in a bit of discomfort, and has asked the physio to attend to him

16.2
0
Karunaratne to Dabare, no run, slower delivery that is dug into the track and follows the batter outside leg stump. Dabare swings and misses, and cops a blow on the body for his troubles

LPL News

Kandy 2nd innings Partnerships

WktRunsPlayers
1st12ADS FletcherP Nissanka
2nd29PHKD MendisP Nissanka
3rd9PW HasarangaP Nissanka
4th2SMA PriyanjanP Nissanka
5th3SMA PriyanjanKNA Bandara
6th15CR BrathwaiteKNA Bandara
7th56C KarunaratneKNA Bandara
8th15I UdanaKNA Bandara