Mishara’s maiden T20 century takes Jaffna to record fifth LPL final after they edge Gallants in Colombo run-fest

• The Qualifier 1 produced the highest-ever match aggregate in LPL history with 470 runs being scored
• Jaffna Kings posted the highest total in LPL history and sixth highest T20 total on Sri Lankan soil

Jaffna Kings edged Galle Gallants in the high-scoring Qualifier 1 of the Lanka Premier League 2026 at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo by a mere 14 runs after posting 242-2 on the back of wicketkeeper-batter Kamil Mishara’s maiden T20 century.

Jaffna are set to play in the fifth LPL final having won the tournament four times already across the previous five editions. Meanwhile, Gallants will face the winner of tonight’s Eliminator between Colombo Kaps and Kandy Royals in Qualifier 2 on Friday night.

On Wednesday, Mishara set the stage on fire with his blitzy knock of 108 runs not out off 55 balls and it included 10 fours and seven sixes. The incoming Pakistan batter Khawaja Nafay and Bangladesh batter Towhid Hridoy struck 54 each to send the Gallants’ attack round the orbit as Kings posted the highest total in LPL history.

Following Avishka Fernando’s early departure at the hands of Akif Javed for a 14-ball 19 in a 35-run opening stand, Mishara stitched a game-changing 138-run partnership with Nafay to take the game away.

At the halfway mark, Jaffna were 96-1 before putting their foot down the paddle as they collected 146 runs off the last 10 overs. Nafay struck four fours and three sixes before being run out in the 16th over.

Hridoy then took only 21 balls to gather 54 runs in his not out knock as he continued to flex his hard hitting in the tournament. He smoked three fours and five sixes including two sixes and as many fours in a 22-run 20th over to end the innings on a high, which actually proved to be the difference in the end.

The Gallants’ chase included starts for five or six batters but none of them crossed the 39-run mark bar the top-scorer Sam Harper, who scored an 21-ball 44 hitting six fours and two sixes.

Harper was involved in a 75-run second-wicket stand with Charith Asalanka (27 off 13, 3 fours, 2 sixes). Both the batters became victims of Lizaad Williams in sixth and eighth over.

Despite requiring a whopping 132 off the last 10 overs, Gallants kept chipping on as they fell only 14 runs short. Chamika Krunaratne hit three sixes and as many fours in his 21-ball 39 and was instrumental in taking the score to 160 by the 14th over began.

Some late hitting by Dasun Shanaka (34 off 19, 2 fours, 3 sixes), Dinura Kalupahana (22 off 15, 2 fours, 1 six) and Sachindu Colombage (27* off 9, 3 fours, 2 sixes) took Gallants close but 38 off the last over looked impossible.

Pacer Mohamed Shiraz picked up three for 32 apart from Williams’ two for 39.

Brief Scores

Jaffna Kings won by 14 runs

Jaffna Kings 242/2 (20)

Kamil Mishara 108* (55)
Towhid Hridoy 54* (21)
Khawaja Nafay 54 (32)

Akif Javed 1/46 (3)

Galle Gallants 228/8 (20)

Sam Harper 44 (21)
Chamika Karunaratne 39 (21)
Dasun Shanaka 34 (19)
Sachindu Colombage 27* (9)
Charith Asalanka 27 (13)
Dinura Kalupahana 22* (15)

Mohamed Shiraz 3/32 (4)
Lizaad Williams 2/39 (4)

Player of the match – Kamil Mishara