COLOMBO: Tabraiz Shamsi took a four-fer and guided Galle Titans to the Lanka Premier League (LPL) playoffs with a thumping eight-wicket victory over Colombo Strikers in the last group stage match on Tuesday.
Galle Titans and Colombo Strikers were placed in fourth and fifth positions in the LPL points table. With only one slot left in the playoffs, this match was a must-win for both teams.
Galle Titans won the toss and asked Colombo Strikers to bat first. Strikers had a horrible start as they were reduced to 19-2 in four overs with both openers back to the pavilion.
Lahiru Kumara bowled both Pathum Nissanka (2) and Babar Azam (6) to script the disaster for Colombo Strikers before Tabraiz Shamsi picked up two wickets in three balls of his first over to inflict further damage.
Nuwanidu Fernando (14) and Mohammad Nawaz (11) then attempted to anchor the innings by knitting a brief 26 runs partnership in 23 balls.
However, Tabraiz Shamsi removed both batters in consecutive overs to add further to the misery of the Strikers.
The scoreboard read 64-6 in 12.4 overs when Mohammad Nawaz departed.
However, the Strikers lost the remaining four wickets in 18 balls, adding only 10 runs and hence were bundled out for a mere 74 runs in 15.4 overs.
Seekkuge Prasanna picked three out of the final four wickets to finish with figures of 3-14, while Tabraiz Shamsi picked four wickets for 20 runs.
Galle Titans lost two early wickets in their pursuit of a small total as Bhanuka Rajapaksa (6) and Litton Das (1), went back to the pavilion with only 19 runs on board.
However, Lasith Croospulle attacked from his end, while Shakib Al Hasan anchored the innings to lead Galle Titans to a comfortable eight-wicket victory inside nine overs. They scripted an unbeaten 56 runs stand in 30 deliveries.
Croospulle top-scored with 42 off 25 deliveries with the help of four boundaries and three sixes, whereas, Shakib scored a cautious 17 off 15 with two boundaries.
This victory rocketed Galle Titans to the second position on the LPL points table, and they will now face Dambulla Aura in Qualifier 1 tomorrow.
Meanwhile, B-Love Kandy and Jaffna Kings will square off in the Eliminator game of LPL on the same day.