Lanka Premier League Final | Hasranga masterclass pushes Gladiators back

Despite an exceptional start to the chase, Galle Gladiators failed to capitalise on it, failing to keep momentum through the crucial phases of the innings.

After spraying 201 runs with the ball, Gladiators hit back at Jaffna, piling on 59 runs in just 4 overs. Just as things seemed to be going out of hands, Wanindu Hasaranga’s introduction bore fruitful results and the right arm leg spinner returned two wickets in his very first over. Bowling the penultimate over of the powerplay, Hasaranga dismissed main man Danushka Gunathilaka with a googly and then in the very next ball drew a false shot from Ben Dunk who came out at three.

Not only did Hasaranga take two wickets, he kept the run in check conceding just 19 runs from his first three overs. He was a livewire at the field and took an exceptional catch off the bowling of his brother - Chaturanga de Silva in the 14th over to remove dangerman Dhananjaya Lakshan for just two runs.

At the time of writing, the Gladiators were struggling at 143/7 in 15.5 overs. They needed 59 off 25 balls.