Dabbed to point. Galle Titans will take on Dambull Aura in the first qualifier. Length at the stumps, Shakib patted it off the back foot while standing leg side of the ball, to begin the celebrations in the dugout.
Colombo vs Titans, 20th Match at Colombo, LPL, Aug 15 2023 - Match Result
Titans won by 8 wickets (with 69 balls remaining)
Not a competitive end to the league stage but an engaging one nonetheless. Turned out the new pitch sprung a surprise on all involved, Colombo landed on the wrong side of it all. Galle have made their way through to have the proverbial two bites of the cherry. All that's left to say now, with the knockouts coming up, is mark your calendars.
Dasun Shanaka, Galle captain: We had the downfall in between but had the belief and are moving in the right direction. We expected there to be turn and for dew to have come in, our bowlers were spot-on. Kumara has changed his wrist position a bit to be more effective in these conditions. He has grown with confidence and experience. Litton and Najib have played with me a lot. Shakib has played a lot too. We have good understanding. We have a couple of games to go and hope to cross the finishing line.
Chamika Karunaratne, Colombo captain: I thought winning the toss was good on a new wicket. But they bowled well. Ifti was telling us that we had to go after the legspinner. I thought the ball was in my slot. I think 130-140 would have been a good score. Wicket was very slow. T20 wicket starting with spinners was very bad. League this year was good. So many people are coming and supporting. Great for the players. Wishing all the teams best of luck.
Tabraiz Shamsi, POTM: Next time, you can just call me on your shoe. It's just a bit of fun. Sometimes, umpires call up the third umpire went decisions are sent upstairs. So, that's just me phoning the third umpire. I have been rusty, having not played cricket for four months. I'm happy to get into my rhythm and groove as the tournament is coming to the end. The pitch was helpful, but you gotta put the ball in the right areas, it was more about varying pace and line. I have to give credit to the fast bowlers and rest of the guys. Dedicating this award to my wife, who's taking care of our son, who's been a bit ill.
Here is the official confirmation of Galle going up to No. 2, and sending Colombo out of the tournament. A note on Pathirana, who was helped off the ground. Not sure what the issue was or if it was anything serious.
9:57pm: What a turnaround! Galle seemed to have buried the game with the ball, early wickets did keep a miraculous defeat in the picture but Shakib and Croospulle's positivity ensured there was none of that. Colombo's spinners did try their best, the fielders had to take all chances which didn't happen. Vandersay and Iftikhar got wickets but they didn't have runs in the bank to apply pressure. But it was their batting that let them down.
Darted down leg again. Goes past the flick, keeper parries it to deep fine leg and scores are tied
Driven down the ground, fifty partnership up. Galle are nearly through! Not a half-volley, not a yorker. Somewhere in the middle, Croospulle stood still and launched it with a low back lift. No chance for Pathirana even to get close
That should be it. Croospulle made room and Pathirana tried to follow him with the yorker. Got it down leg, went past the flick. Angle took it away from the keeper. Four to fine leg
One-handed lift takes it over the fine-leg boundary. Short ball at the chest, Croospulle was shaping for the hook, got there and the bottom hand came off. The ball flew off the top edge and went miles
Pathirana introduced with the game pretty much dead and buried. Focus just on Galle's race to No. 2
Ahmad : "Even though strikers have lost loving the energy vandersay is bringing here"
Two stolen on the leg side. Shakib charged down the ground and tried to mow it over midwicket, got it squarer off the thick inside edge. It fizzled along the ground and the batters charged to convert it to two.
Works the fullish ball to midwicket
Launched down the ground. The two previous dots won't hurt as much now for Galle. This was given air, too full too. Croospulle went on one knee and lofted it straight
Croospulle tries to pump the full, flat ball down the ground. Ball spins in to beat the inside edge
Tries to pull the shortish flat ball to the leg side. Gets beaten and hit on the body
Appeal for stumping sent upstairs. Legbreak on a length, landed outside leg and beat the slog sweep. Keeper didn't whip off the bails on the first attempt. Not sure if he didn't do it intentionally, the gloves upper cut close to the stumps. The batter's shoe was on the crease then, it slid back just a bit as the keeper, in the second attempt, did whip the bails off
27 needed off 25 for Galle to get to No. 2.
Shakib taking guard well outside leg. Ifti goes flat on a length, at the stumps. A bit late on the cut but gets it to point
Makes room, clobbers a slog sweep along the carpet. Deep-midwicket gap is breached with precision.
Length down leg, glances it to short fine leg
Backs away and clips it to the leg side
They're trying to do it. Shakib stood leg side and cut the slightly short ball from the stumps. Thick outside edge takes it in the gap to the deep-third boundary
Titans need to get to the target in 11.1, remember
Stays leg side, tries to caress it with the horizontal bat. Gets beaten
Liara Ibrahim : "Nuwanidu's catch was a ripper! The catch of the tournament! Wow."
Length ball spins away sharply, beats Croospulle's tentative defence
Pumped down the ground. Got to the pitch, hit it through the line. Vandersay turned right after contact was made
Mid-on runs to the left for the catch, ends up parrying it to long-off. He got to it, tried to clasp it between both hands. Shortish ball, Croospulle was halfway through the pull when the ball popped out of the top edge. That was more than a half-chance
2W | ||||
1W | 1W | |||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
1W | ||||
R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo | |
Toss | Galle Titans, elected to field first |
Series | |
Season | 2023 |
Player Of The Match | |
Match days | 15 August 2023 - night (20-over match) |
Umpires | |
TV Umpire | |
Reserve Umpire | |
Match Referee | |
Points | Galle Titans 2, Colombo Strikers 0 |
Over 9 • GT 75/2
Titans won by 8 wickets (with 69 balls remaining)