Match 9: Kandy Royals vs Colombo Kaps
Kandy Royals
Colombo Kaps
Colombo Kaps Defeat Kandy Royals by 23 Runs in Dambulla
Colombo Kaps produced a strong all-round performance to secure a 23-run victory over Kandy Royals in the ninth match of the Lanka Premier League 2026 at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium.
Batting first, Colombo Kaps recovered from an early collapse to post a competitive 192 for 9 in their 20 overs. Opener Rubin Hermann gave the innings early momentum with a fluent 53 off 36 deliveries, striking seven boundaries and a six before falling just as he looked set for a bigger score.
After slipping to 67 for 5, Janith Liyanage anchored the recovery with a composed unbeaten 52 from 33 balls, while James Neesham injected late momentum with a blistering 24 off just 10 deliveries, including two fours and two sixes. Binura Fernando also made a valuable contribution down the order with 21 from 13 balls, helping Colombo finish with a challenging total.
Kandy Royals shared the wickets around, with Shaheen Shah Afridi, Moeen Ali, and Dushan Hemantha picking up two wickets each, while Nuwan Thushara and Vijay Shankar claimed one apiece.
In reply, Kandy Royals struggled to build lasting partnerships despite several useful contributions. Angelo Mathews led the resistance with an unbeaten 39 off 24 deliveries, striking five boundaries and a six, while Dale Phillips contributed 38 from 27 balls and Vijay Shankar added 30 from 23 deliveries.
However, regular wickets prevented the Royals from gaining control of the chase. They eventually finished on 169 for 8, falling 23 runs short of the target.
Colombo’s bowling attack delivered a disciplined performance throughout the innings. Mujeeb Ur Rahman was the standout performer, claiming 3 for 34, while Wanuja Sahan impressed with 1 for 24. Shahnawaz Dahani, Malsha Tharupathi, and James Neesham also chipped in with a wicket each as the Kaps maintained control during the middle and death overs.
A resilient recovery with the bat, led by Janith Liyanage, followed by a well-rounded bowling effort spearheaded by Mujeeb Ur Rahman, helped Colombo Kaps record a deserved 23-run victory over Kandy Royals at the Rangiri Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, strengthening their position in the LPL 2026 standings.
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