Galle Gladiators atoned for yesterday’s loss by pulling off a last gasp 4-wicket win over Kandy Warriors in the fourth fixture of the Lanka Premier League Tournament at the R. Premadasa Stadium today. Chasing 144 to win, the Gladiators did it with four balls to spare when Lahiru Madushanka smashed the first two deliveries of the last over for a six and a four.  The Galle Gladiators needed 26 off 14 balls when the seventh-wicket pair of  Madushanka and Dhananjaya Lakshan came together, and what a breath-taking finish it turned out to be.

Madushanka was unbeaten on 22 with 2 sixes and a boundary while Dhananjaya Lakshan made 10 in that unfinished 26-run canter to the victory post. Lakshan capped a fine all-round feat having claimed 2 for 11 to earn the Player of the Match award.

The Gladiators were given a rousing 62-run start in 7.3 overs by openers Dhanushka Gunathilaka who made 45 off 33 packed with 2 sixes and 4 fours, and Kusal Mendis 16 off 21 with 2 fours. Skipper Bhanuka Rajapaksa kept up the momentum with a brisk 22 off 13 hitting 2 fours and a six.

Sachindu Colombage took 3 for 20 for Kandy Warriors.  Kandy Warriors, taking first lease, made a formidable 143 for 6 off 20 overs on a 51-ball 56 by Ahmad Shahzad with 7 hits to the ropes and a six while Kamindu Mendis struck 32 off 25 inclusive of 4 fours. Thilakaratne Sampath made 19 off 9. Samit Patel was the pick of the Gladiators bowlers claiming 3 for 13 follòwed by Dhananjaya Lakshan’s 2 for 17.

The win gave Galle Gladiators two wins from three games having gone down to Colombo Stars.