Galle Gallants make it two out of two with a five-wicket win over Colombo Kaps

Harper’s 65, Arachchige’s 38 not out, two sixes in the death from Nawaz in a 190-run chase and 4-40 from Akif with ball helped Gallants outfox Kaps

Kusal Mendis and Ben McDermott’s half-centuries went in vain for Colombo Kaps

Galle Gallants stamped their authority in the Lanka Premier League 2026 as they won their second successive game with the tournament seeing out its first double-header day on Saturday.

At the Sinhalese Sports Club under the lights, Colombo Kaps’ 189-8 in 20 overs was not enough after they were invited to bat first by Dasun Shanaka, who ably showcased his team’s ability to defend and chase successfully in first two days of the tournament.

Gallants’ Akif Javed earned player of the match honours for his four for 40 which included the wickets of Kamindu Mendis, Janith Liyanage and a double blow to close the innings.

Eshan Malinga, who later made way for Lasith Croospulle as impact sub, removed half-centurion Ben McDermott, while Mohammad Nawaz and Shanaka also picked up a wicket each in the powerplay with the skipper drawing first blood in second over.

For the Kaps, skipper Kusal Mendis and united with McDermott at 65-3 in 5.5 overs and the duo in tandem gathered 97 runs off next 63 balls. Kusal Mendis had a memorable outing as he struck seven sixes and two fours in his knock of 79 off 53, while McDermott hit six fours and two sixes in his fifty.

They were separated on the second ball of the 17th over with 162 runs on the board and then Kaps only managed 27 runs off the last 22 balls as Gallants bowlers applied the choke. No other batter crossed the 15-run mark for them apart from Mendis and McDermott.

Galle Gallants’ chase kept on seesawing but they eventually overhauled the target with four balls to spare as as number five batter Sahan Arachchige remained unbeaten for 38 off 16 balls inclusive of seven fours.

Nawaz provided the much-needed impetus with a two sixes-laden 16 not out from eight balls after James Neesham threatened to make inroads for Kaps when he castled Shanaka with a beauty of a back of the hand slower ball as Gallants required 27 off 15 balls. Arachchige and Nawaz’s fiery 28-run stand off 12 balls ensured no more slip-ups for the home team.

Arachhige had also added 29 runs with Shanaka as the left hander took apart Binura Fernando for four fours in five balls in the 16th over. He had arrived to the crease after Sam Harper and Charith Asalanka had anchored the chase with 72-run third-wicket stand off 53 balls.

Harper continued his good form from yesterday with a 45-ball 65 striking six fours and three sixes, while Asalanka hit two sixes in his useful 21-ball 28-run knock. Harper and Asalanka had got together in the middle after Impact sub Lasith Croospulle was caught behind for 17 in the third over and Mehidy Hasan Miraz was removed by Wanuja Sahan for 13 in the sixth over.

Sahan and Hasan picked up two wickets, while Neesham had one. Sunday will be another double-header day with Dambulla Sixers facing Jaffna Kings in afternoon game and Colombo Kaps fronting up against Kandy Royals in night game.

Brief scores

Colomno Kaps: 189/8 (20)
Kusal Mendis 79 (53)
Ben McDermott 57 (34)

Akif Javed 4/40 (4)

Galle Gallants: 191/5 (19.2)
Sam Harper 65 (45)
Sahan Arachchige 38* (16)
Charith Asalanka 28 (21)

Wanuja Sahan 2/19 (3)
Hasan Mahmud 2/31 (2.2)

Player of the match – Sam Harper