Colombo Stars vs Galle Gladiators, Eliminator - Live Cricket Score, Commentary

So, two rain marred games saw Jaffna and Colombo winning them. Kandy have another shot tomorrow when they square off against Colombo. Where as Galle will go home. Galle never got going with the bat and it would have been a drab show had it not been for Sahan Arachchige's fifty. He was superb. But rest of his mates crumbled and the bowlers were left with 108 to defend. The defence started off well but they needed more strikes which didn't happen. Kandy will be a bigger proposition for Colombo to deal with. We will be there to dish out all the nitty gritties. Join us then! Tadaaaa...

Angelo Mathews: We live another day for another fight. It was a tricky wicket. The bowlers were brilliant. Nabi was wonderful in these wet conditions. We knew it was not an easy wicket to start off. We were trying to get set. We were running hard. It was still not easy to score on. They (Kandy) are a very dangerous team. They have got firepower in all departments. You give yourself a chance and see what happens.

Kusal Mendis: It was hard to play on this wicket after the rain. We also lost a couple of wickets early. 130-140 would have been a good score. We have young boys doing well.

Ravi Bopara, Player of the Match: I have had a good run against those (Galle) guys. There were tensed moments. We knew it would be difficult for the new batters. We said to each other the longer we stay there, the easier it will be for us. Nabi has been a great inclusion for us. Kandy are a great side.

23:43 Local Time, 18:13 GMT, 23:43 IST: Mathews and Bopara have guided Colombo home! They were about to hit a bumpy road when these two came together to seal it for Colombo. The veterans hung in there, waited for the bad balls and put them away to chase this total down in 17 overs. Bopara's 28 ball 43 took care of the run rate and Mathews's presence at the other end took care of the nerves. Galle had started well in the defence of 108 but lost the plot in the last 3-4 overs. Batting wasn't easy as the sticky wicket had enough for the pacers as well as tweakers but the experience of the pair came in handy. First time that Colombo have managed to win a knockout encounter. But this win was set up by the Colombo bowlers who were really frugal and the fielders who came up with an outstanding display despite wet conditions.

Riaz to Mathews, no ball, 1 run, that's a no-ball and that's it. Mathews heaves it away on to the on-side and gets it behind square. They get a single and the no-ball adds on more to ensure Colombo are through. Colombo win this by 7 wickets

Riaz to Mathews, no run, banged in short, Mathews looks to pull and misses. He was a little late on it. Only two off 7 balls

Riaz to Bopara, 1 run, nudges the ball off the pads into the on-side for a single as that angled in

Riaz to Bopara, FOUR, fuller length delivery, Bopara slams the drive down the ground and gets it away from the man at mid-off for a four. Hit really well

Riaz to Mathews, 1 run, flogs the length delivery away on to the on-side for a single. Only 7 needed now

Riaz to Bopara, 1 run, pats it down into the deck and they eke a single out. The bowler tried to kick it on to the sticks and missed. Else Bopara was a goner

Wahab Riaz [3.0-0-17-0] is back into the attack

Sandakan to Mathews, no run, stabs a flatter one into the off-side. Doesn't get the single

Sandakan to Bopara, 1 run, sweeps that down to fine leg for a single. 100 up for the Colombo unit. The last two overs have turned the tide in their favour

Sandakan to Bopara, FOUR, kneels down and slaps the slog sweep away from the man at deep mid. That was hit hard and into the gap. Superb piece of timing. Only 10 now

Sandakan to Mathews, 1 run, slapped off the back foot and the man at deep cover cuts it off. 14 needed now

Sandakan to Bopara, 1 run, fifty for the duo! This has been a fine partnership by the veterans

Sandakan to Bopara, FOUR, looks to blast but gets an edge. The result though is exactly what he wanted. The ball went off the thick edge and ran away fine. Four added to the tally. 16 needed now

N Thushara to Mathews, FOUR, short ball, Mathews climbs on top of the short ball and pulls it down to deep square for a single. That was hit hard and into the gap. This has been a great over for Colombo...

N Thushara to Bopara, 1 run, tucks the ball away off the pads for a single