COLOMBO: Kamil Mishara’s sublime century and Khawaja Nafay’s gritty fifty helped Jaffna Kings defeat Galle Gallants by 14 runs in the Qualifier 1 to book a spot in the final of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026.

Put into bat first at the R Premadasa Stadium, Jaffna Kings racked up a mammoth total of 242-2 in 20 overs.

Avishka Fernando and Kamil Mishara added 35 for the opening wicket in 4.4 overs. Fernando, who made 19 off 14, was substituted out in the fourth over.

Following the substitution, Kamil Mishara and Khawaja Nafay put on a massive 138-run partnership, bringing the team into a solid position with 173 on the board in the 15th over.

Nafay was run out after scoring 54 off 32 balls, striking three sixes and four boundaries. Meanwhile, Mishara carried on and stringed another unbeaten 69* run stand with Towhid Hridoy.

Mishara raised his century in the process while Hridoy provided a late flourish to lift Jaffna into a strong position. Mishara made 108* off 55 balls, including seven sixes and 10 fours, while Hridoy smashed five sixes and three fours in his brisk 54 not out off just 21 balls.

For Galle Gallants, Akif Javed remained the solitary wicket-taker.

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In reply, Galle Gallants demonstrated a spirited batting show and scored 228-8 in 20 overs, despite losing an early wicket.

After Thomas Rogers’ departure for a duck in the first over, Charith Asalanka and Sam Harper batted responsibly, stitching a 74-run partnership in only five overs.

Harper was particularly explosive, hitting two sixes and six fours in his 41 off 21 balls, including two sixes and six fours. Asalanka made 27 off 13, hitting three fours and two sixes.

Following a strong foundation, Gallants stumbled in the middle and slumped to 97-4 inside nine overs.

After a flurry of wickets, Chamika Karunaratne and skipper Dasun Shanaka kept Gallants in the hunt, forging a 63-run partnership on 27 deliveries.

Yet, the pair was sent in successive overs, leaving them 165-6. Karunaratne made 39 from 21, with the help of three sixes and three fours. Shanaka’s 19-ball 34, including three sixes and two fours.

Eventually, Kings sealed their place in the final as Mohamed Shiraz bowled an impressive spell, scalping three wickets in his quota of four overs.

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