Dambulla Sixers crash out of LPL 2026 after rain forces no-result in must-win game against Jaffna Kings

• Rain forced a no-result in must-win fixture for Sixers, who have been edged by Kandy Royals on points table
• Qualifier 1 and Eliminator of LPL 2026 to be played on 5 August as action shifts back to Colombo

Dambulla Sixers’ journey in the Lanka Premier League 2026 and the Pallekele leg of the tournament both finished on a damp note as consistent rain forced a no-result with Jaffna Kings finishing top of the table accruing 11 points off eight games.

The Sixers were required to win this game by a good margin to match Kandy Royals’ six points and edged them on net run rate but rain spoiled their plan after they had posted a healthy 203-run total after being asked to bat first.

Rain arrived at the innings break and only subsided once slightly before finally forcing a no-result as it was called by the match officials at 10.45pm local time.

On Wednesday, 5 August, the toppers Jaffna Kings and second-placed Galle Gallants will face off in the day game – the Qualifier – at R Premadasa Stadium Colombo. The Eliminator in the evening will be contested between Colombo Kaps and Kandy Royals.

At Pallekele in the last league game of the tournament, Sixers lost Sahibzada Farhan early in the fourth over with 39 runs on the board after he had belted a six and three fours in his 19-ball 24.

Wellalage struck in the last over of powerplay to send back Reeza Hendricks for one.

Skipper Chandimal knew the equation for the day and batted accordingly as he struck four sixes and two fours in his enterprising 24-ball 44-run outing, which was cut short by Zahoor Khan at the start of 12th over.

No.4 batter Pavan Rathnayake partnered with Chandimal for 68-run stand after which Kings took six wickets for 65 runs in 7.3 overs to stem the flow of runs. Rathnayake was denied a half-century (47 off 28, three fours, two sixes) as Dilshan Madushanka accounted for him.

Sikandar Raza (14 off 8, 1 fours, 1 six) and Gulbadin Naib (20 off 18, 2 fours) were stopped early on in their outing as Kings took wickets on regular intervals.

It was eight-ball 23-run ninth-wicket stand between Maheesh Theekshana (11* off 5, 1 six) and Shadley van Schalwyk (7 off 4, 1 four) that took Sixers past 200-run mark.

For Kings, Madushanka picked up three for 32 in his four, while Wellalage and Lizaad Williams – the top two wicket-takers in the tournament so far – picked up two scalps each.

Brief Scores

No result – Match abandoned due to rain

Dambulla Sixers 203/8 (20)

Pavan Rathnayake 47 (28)
Dinesh Chandimal 44 (24)
Sahibzada Farhan 24 (19)
Gulbadin Naib 20 (18)

Dilshan Madushanka 3/32
Dunith Wellalage 2/24
Lizaad Williams 2/39

Jaffna Kings – Did not bat

Player of the match – N/A