Dambulla Giants vs Galle Gladiators, 8th Match - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

18:28 Local Time, 12:58 GMT, 18:28 IST: The inevitable has happened. The match has been called off due to rain. The rains hampered the game once before but things got started in the first innings. But the rains in this essay was too heavy for the action to recommence. The second game's fate is now looking bleak as well. We will have our fingers crossed.

17:55 Local Time, 12:25 GMT, 17:55 IST: Nothing much to update. The rain continues to fall and ground has been fully covered as is the case in Sri Lanka.

17:28 Local Time, 11:58 GMT, 17:28 IST: Steady drizzle at the moment and the skies are looking ominous. The groundstaff are on the ground with the covers in a flash.

Tharindu Ratnayake to Kusal Mendis, 2 runs, half-tracker with width, Mendis sits back and carves it over backward point. It's chased down just in time. And, off they go with the rain getting heavier

Rain is picking up and it's gotten dark too. We could be off again soon.

Tharindu Ratnayake to Gunathilaka, 1 run, flatter and shorter, Gunathilaka looks to cut and slices this uppishly to short third man

Tharindu Ratnayake, right-arm off break, comes into the attack

It's starting to rain. The groundstaff are getting ready on the sidelines.

Pradeep to Kusal Mendis, 2 runs, huge miscue, falls in the gap! Fortune for Mendis. He wanted to play the short-arm jab but was into the shot a tad early. Got plenty of height on this and in the end, just about got the placement right at deep mid-wicket, even if unintentionally

Pradeep to Gunathilaka, 1 run, nails the yorker, Gunathilaka squeezes it out towards point

Pradeep to Kusal Mendis, 1 run, shorter and on the hips, tucked away through backward square leg

Pradeep to Kusal Mendis, SIX, this is some start from Mendis! Wow! Slot ball alright but look at the execution of the loft. High-elbow, classical as he sends this over long-on. Terrific stuff!

Pradeep to Kusal Mendis, FOUR, shot! Pradeep drops it short but not short enough to trouble Mendis who swivels and uses the pace, pulling over backward square leg with nonchalance

Pradeep to Gunathilaka, 1 run, fuller and straighter, nudged towards mid-on. Galle are away

Gunathilaka and Kusal Mendis are at the crease. Gunathilaka is on strike. Pradeep will open the attack

Welcome back. Dambulla need early wickets because otherwise, Galle's openers could make merry in the powerplay. All in readiness for the action to start.

17:11 Local Time, 11:41 GMT, 17:11 IST: That's an excellent finish for Dambulla. 42 came off the final 18 balls, giving them a competitive total on the board. The rain break working well for them, because there wasn't any momentum prior to that. Ramesh Mendis came to the fore with another sparkling cameo at the back end, giving the much-needed nitroboost finish that the side were seeking. Galle were mostly on the money with the ball, striking back well after another fast start from Salt and Dickwella. They kept chipping away at the wickets, forcing Shanaka to rebuild with Mendis. The former wasn't able to do the heavylifting at the end but his partner more than compensated for it with some inventive strokeplay. Galle will fancy this target though, because the surface should skid on better with the rain break. Back shortly for the chase.

Dhananjaya Lakshan to Ramesh Mendis, SIX, Mendis finishes the innings in style! He's making this a habit, isn't he? Precious cameos these. Shuffles across early, gets one that's short and he dispatches this all the way over fine leg

Dhananjaya Lakshan to Ramesh Mendis, FOUR, superb batting! This was decently bowled by Lakshan, might have been full but was the slower ball and there was no room provided. Mendis still somehow got leg-side of the ball and sliced it over mid-off. Excellent shot

Dhananjaya Lakshan to Tharindu Ratnayake, 1 run, slower bouncer, holds on the track a bit and Ratnayake has no timing on the pull, finds deep mid-wicket. Top final over this from Lakshan, mixing up his pace and lengths really well