DAMBULLA, Sri Lanka – Andre Fletcher’s 38th half-century in Twenty20s went in vain as Galle Marvels comfortably beat his Kandy Falcons by seven wickets in the Lanka Premier League on Sunday.
The 36-year-old made exactly 50 off 36 balls with four fours and two sixes at the top of the order as Falcons, sent in to bat at the Rangiri Dambulla International Stadium, rallied to 175 for seven off their 20 overs.
With Falcons slumping at 32 for four in the sixth over, Fletcher combined with Angelo Mathews (25) in a 45-run, fifth wicket stand to lead the first recovery.
When Fletcher perished in the 12th over, captain Wanindu Hasaranga launched a counter-attack, belting a top score of 65 off 32 deliveries with seven fours and three sixes, as he posted a crucial 58 for the sixth wicket with Mathews.
In reply, Marvels were guided by Tim Seifert, the New Zealander stroking an unbeaten 82 off 49 balls to put his side over the line with 17 balls to spare.
Niroshan Dickwella fell cheaply for 12 in the first over with as many on the board but Seifert controlled the chase thereafter, putting on 79 for the second wicket with Alex Hales (38), 38 for the third wicket with Bhanuka Rajapaksa (16) and 29 in an unbroken fifth wicket partnership with Sahan Arachchige (nine not out)
All told, Seifert struck 11 fours and two sixes in notching his 24th T20 fifty.
CMC