COLOMBO: Galle Gallants thumphed Jaffna Kings by 36 runs in the opening match of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 at the Sinhalese Sports Club Ground on Friday.
Set daunting 214, Jaffna Kings were bowled out for 177 in 19.4 overs, despite a solid opening partnership.
Avishka Fernando (34) and Kamil Mishara (28) provided a brisk start, stitching a 63-run partnership in first five overs.
However, Eshan Malinga sparked a mini collapse to leave Kings in dire straits at 84-5 at the half-way mark.
Dunith Wellalage, who top-scored with 40 off 24, tried to arrest the slide with a 42-run partnership alongside David Wiese, who made 15.
The scorecard read 126 in 14.2 overs before Vijayakanth Viyaskanth accounted for Wellalage’s dimissal, ending Kings hopes in the steep chase.
Consequently, the whole team was bundled out before 20 overs. Eshan Malinga starred with the ball for Galle Gallansts, scalping four wickets in his 3.4 overs whereas Akif Javed also chipped in with the ball and picked up two wickets.
Asked to bat first, Charith Asalanka’s gutsy fifty and late cameos by Dasun Shanaka and Mohammad Nawaz took Galle Gallants to 213-6 in 20 overs.
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Lasith Croospulle only scored one in a 41-run opening stand dominated by Sam Harper, who hit a quick-fire 41 off 19, including eight fours and a six. However, Kings hit back with two quick wickets.
Charith Asalanka and Mehidy Hasan Miraz added 36 for the third wicket before Lizaad Williams sent back the former, who made 10.
With 82-3 at the half-way mark, Asalanka and Sahan Arachchige forged a 74 run stand, laying a foundation for big total. Asalanka top-scored with 65 from 38 deliveries, striking three maximums seven fours.
Arachchige contributed with 35 off 24 balls, hitting two sixes and three fours.
The late impetus to the innings was provided by Dasun Shanaka and Mohammad Nawaz. Shanaka smashed 31 off just nine balls including three sixes, while Nawaz scored 21 from nine balls, also striking three sixes
For Jaffna Kings, Piyush Chawla and Lizaad Williams shared four wickets between them.