Galle Cricket Club all out for 31 but still win first-class match

Galle Cricket Stadium, the home ground of Galle Cricket Club

In the Premier League Tournament relegation play-off in Sri Lanka, Galle Cricket Club were bowled out for just 31 in their first innings, but still went on to win the match by 4 runs against the Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club at the Army Ground, Panagoda.

Put into bat, the Galle-based side lost three quick wickets with their score still in single digits. At one stage, they were 27/5 but then lost 5 wickets for only 4 runs, including the last three for zero runs.

Incidentally, 31 is the joint lowest innings total by any side in the history of first-class cricket in Sri Lanka.

Asiri Karunaratne was the pick of the bowlers for the Air Force team as he ended with figures of 5/21. No batsman reached double digits for Galle, with Navindu Nirmal ending as the top scorer in the innings with 7.

In reply, Sajith Kalumpriya and Buddika Sandaruwan put on a 47-run partnership but after the latter was dismissed for 20, the Sri Lanka Air Force Sports Club collapsed to 84/6. Ranga Dissanayake toiled hard to get his side past the 200-run mark. In the end, the Air Force side were bowled out for 215.

Galle came back strongly in their second innings, posting 295 on the board mainly thanks a splendid century from 17-year-old debutant Charith Asalanka. The number 3 batsman slammed 13 fours and 4 sixes during his 123-ball 114.

Chasing a modest 112 to win, the Air Force Sports Club lost wickets at regular intervals and were bundled out for 107. Malith de Silva was the star for Galle, picking up figures of 6/46.

Interestingly, a total of eight players – Asalanka, de Silva, Wanidu Hasaranga, Ashan Madushanka, Geeth Nanayakkara, Nirmal, Charith Sudaraka and Vimukthi Umagiliyage – made their first-class debut in this match for the Galle Cricket Club,