Kandy Warriors defeated the more fancied high riding Galle Gladiators by 5 wickets with 5 balls to spare in Saturday’s first day-night game and the 10th of the Lanka Premier League 2021 at the R. Premadasa Stadium.

Kandy who have not had the going their way in the tournament, in a turnaround put the Galle Gladiators on the back foot by restricting their opponents to just 127 for 7 in the allotted 20 overs. The Warriors hero with the ball was Kamindu Mendis who claimed 3 for 25. He was well supported by Nimesh Vimukthi 2 for 23. 

Kandy Warriors romped to 131 for 5 wickets with Ravi Bopara leading the way with an unbeaten 34 followed by Tom Moores 28 and Charith Asalanka 21. It was a remarkable warrior-like all-round display by the Kandy side with full marks to the bowlers in breaking the back of the Gladiators dangerous batting line-up. Where some of the hitherto aces in the pack failed, Kusal Mendis top scored for Galle Gladiators with 44 while Samit Patel was unbeaten on 36.