Despite having the tournament’s leading run maker in opening batsman Dhanushka Gunathilaka, the Galle Gladiators team made a timely rise at the last minute to enter the semi finals of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) and their opponents today Colombo Kings could be subjected to a torrid time.
While Gunathilaka kept them afloat with what has been one of the most consistent batting performances by any batsman in T20 cricket, the Gladiators found their killing power in a last ditch effort through gangly fast bowler Mohamed Amir and the rising 22-year old medium pacer Dhananjaya Lakshan.
While Amir took 10 wickets in the qualifying matches, the 22-year old former Richmond schoolboy Lakshan grabbed eight scalps while lifting his game at the most crucial stage for the Gladiators who also saw the exit of their captain Shahid Afridi but found an able leader in Bhanuka Rajapakse. The two will have to continue with their exploits for Galle to make headway not forgetting the role played by spinner Lakshan Sandakan who also has eight wickets but still away from doing something special given the deceptive nature of his bowling.
While Gunathilaka will certainly be a marked man and shoulder the batting in a match that is more like a final, the Galle Gladiators can also look up to young Azan Khan who has shown he can be a power hitter without any mental worries who will not hold back anything.
But all eyes are also likely to be on Colombo Kings opening batsman and Englishman Laurie Evans who is yet to play an international match for his country but the only century maker in the LPL with 108 and an aggregate of 289 which makes him second only to Gunathilaka (462) in the batting ranks.
Another Colombo Kings player that the Gladiators will have to do their homework on will be the allrounder Qais Ahamed from Afghanistan who clouted 50 in 22 balls in their last qualifying match against the Dambulla Vikings. What makes Ahamed more dangerous is that he is the second best wicket taker in the LPL with 11 scalps.
Both teams also possess some bits-and-pieces players who could also come in handy.