Lahiru Udara’s mind-blowing 132* rewrites LPL history books as Kandy Royals secure crucial win

• Royals pulled off the second-highest successful chase in LPL history as Udara smashed the highest individual score ever displacing Pathum Nissanka’s 119
• The game also produced the fourth-highest aggregate (422 runs) in an LPL match across the six seasons
• Kandy Royals jump to fourth position with one more game to go as race for playoffs qualification heats up

Pallekele, 29th July 2026:

Opening batsman Lahiru Udara played a magnificent knock of 132 not out to lead the battling Kandy Royals to a much-needed six-wicket win over table table-toppers Galle Gallants in a successful 209-run chase as the first game of the Wednesday double-header unfolded dramatically at the Pallekele International cricket stadium.

Royals, who were placed bottom of the table before this game, stormed to the second-highest successful chase in the history of the league as Udara’s blitz have now taken them to fourth spot with one game to go. Royals have now beaten the Gallants twice this season.

Udara struck 15 fours and seven sixes in his rampaging 63-ball knock and saw off the runs in style striking Akif Javed for three sixes in the penultimate over when Royals required 24 off 12.

Royals began the chase on a strong note with Udara putting on a 103-run opening stand with Pawan Sandesh in which the latter only contributed 23 off 17 hitting one six. Udara’s dominance can be gauged from the fact that no other Royals batter crossed the 20-run mark apart from the openers.

Besides registering his highest T20 total, highest individual score in LPL and maiden century in the format, Udara gave Akif (0-66) and Tharindu Rathnayake (0-45) figures to forget.

Royals had required 85 off the last 10 overs and faced the only roadblock in a two-run 13th over when Sachindu Colombage removed Moeen Ali and Dale Phillips. Colombage finished with three for 18 in four overs, while Eshan Malinga had one scalp to his name.

Earlier Dasun Shanaka won the toss and opted to bat as the Gallants’ opening duo of Sam Harper and Nurul Hasan (33 off 32, 3x4s, 1×6) picked up 81 runs in 9.4 overs when the latter became first of the two wickets of left-arm wrist-spinner Zahir Khan.

Harper’s knock of 72 from 38 balls included seven fours and three sixes and it came to a halt in the 14th over with Zahir again striking. Charith Asalanka picked up the innings from this point and finished with an aggressive 32-ball 70 not out, hitting seven fours and four sixes.

Asalanka also shared 58-run stand with Shanaka (16 off 13, 2 sixes) and then finished with flourish picking up 26 runs off 12 balls along with Chamika Karunaratne (8 off 5, 1four) as Gallants posted 208-3.

Apart from Zahir’s two wickets, Nuwan Thusara dismissed one batter.

Brief Scores

Galle Gallants 208/3 (20)

Sam Harper 72 (38)
Charith Asalanka 70* (32)
Nurul Hasan 33 (32)

Zahir Khan 2/25 (4)

Kandy Royals 214/4 (18.5 overs)

Lahiru Udara 132* (63)
Pawan Sandesh 23 (17)

Sachindu Colombage 3/18 (4)

Player of the match: Lahiru Udara