LPL: Bopara helps Kandy bag first win

The bowlers helped the Kandy Warriors to register their 1st victory in the tournament after 3 straight losses.

Kandy Warriors bowled superbly to restrict the Gladiators strong batting lineup on just 127-7 in the 20 overs. 

Galle Gladiators   20 overs       127-7

K. Mendis 44(34)                    Mendis   3-25                                                                                                                 S. Patel     36(32)                    Vimukthi 2-17

Kandy Warriors    18.4 overs   131-5

Bopara  34*(39)                      S. Patel   2-20                                                                                                      Moores 28(21)                        M. Amir 1-19

Galle Gladiators elected to bat first after winning the toss but they lost their main player Gunathilaka in the second over.

Shiraz Ahmad cleaned him up for just 5 runs.

In the very next over, Nimesh Vimukthi clean bowled Sadeera Samarawickrama for a duck.

Kusal Mendis excels

Kusal Mendis was batting brilliantly but he was not getting enough support from the other end.

Gladiators scored 43 runs with the loss of 2 wickets in the Powerplay. 

Ben Dunk was struggling to hit big shots and in a try to hit a six over mid-wicket on a slow ball, he was caught by Vimukthi who took a brilliant catch while running.

The Gladiators continued to lose wickets in the middle overs and that hurt them badly.

Kusal Mendis scored a superb 44 off 34 balls in a fighting situation. 

After the dismissal of Mendis, the scoring rate became very less and the Gladiators were on 98-6 in 16 overs at one stage of the game.

But Samit Patel rescued his side a little bit and played a crucial and unbeaten knock of 36 runs off just 32 balls.

Samit Patel’s little cameo helped his side to put at least a respectable total on the board.

Gladiators finished their innings on a score of 127-7 giving the Warriors a target of 128 runs to win the game. 

M. Amir gave a wonderful start to the Gladiators by dismissing Tillakaratne Sampath for a golden duck in the first over of the innings.

Charith Asalanka was looking good but he threw away his wicket by getting caught out in a try to hit a shot over midwicket on a delivery that was on a length outside off.

Asalanka scored 21 runs off 19 balls including 3 fours and a six before getting dismissed by Lakshan. 

Kandy Warriors scored 43 runs in the Powerplay but they had also lost 3 wickets in that period.

Kamindu Mendis also failed to score runs with the bat and was dismissed in the 10th over.

The Warriors were  struggling in their chase and were 59-4 at the end of 10 overs. 

But Bopara and Moores played sensibly and scored a much-needed 50 runs partnership for the 5th wicket.

Moores was stumped out on 28 runs in Patel’s over.

Bopara stayed calm till the end and he get his side over the line in the 19th over of the innings.

Bopara remained not out on 34 runs in the end.

With this victory, the Kandy Warriors have opened their account on the points table with 2 crucial points.

On the other hand, Gladiators have won two matches, lost two matches and one of their matches was washed out due to rain.