Angelo Mathews returned to the fold from injury to lead Colombo Stars to a much needed 41-run win over Galle Gladiators with a 57-ball 73 in Sunday’s second day-night match of the Lanka Premier League 2021 at the R. Premadasa Stadium on Saturday.

Mathews, who opened the  batting, proved to be be the driving force to a depleted Stars triumph. He hit 8 boundaries and 3 sixes in a total of 162 for 7 wickets in a rain reduced 18 over match. Galle Gladiators suffered their second successive defeat in two days when they were bowled out for 121 in 16.1 overs with Naveen ul-Haq claiming 3 for 27.

Colombo Stars innings was also bolstered by Dinesh Chandimal who made 36 off 14 inclusive of 4 fours and 2 sixes. Ashan Priyanjan made 23 off 14 with 3 fours in what was only the Colombo Stars second tournament win with victory having eluded them by just one run yesterday.

For the Galle Gladiators, only Kusal Mendis was among the runs with a 39-ball 64 with 7 fours and a six. Naveen ul-Haq was well supported by Seekuge Prasanna who took 2 for 23 and Ravi Rampaul 2 for 34.

Among the wickets for Galle Gladiators were Dhananjaya Lakshan with 2 for 22 and Samit Patel 2 for 23.