Kamindu Mendis hits 39-ball 88 to lead Colombo Kaps to third win

• Kamindu Mendis’ 17th T20 fifty led the Colombo Kaps to a healthy total
• On Sunday, entry will be free for the fans as Dambulla sees out its two last games with a double-header

Dambulla, 25th July 2026:

Colombo Kaps jumped to the second position on the points table of Lanka Premier League 2026 after they beat Dambulla Sixers by 21 runs after posting 197-5 which was inspired by their captain Kamindu Mendis’ brisk 88.

In turn, Dambulla Sixers could only manage 176/8 in 20 overs, succumbing to their third loss in five games. Pacer Shahnawaz Dahani returned outstanding spell of 2 for 20 in his four over while also effecting a run out in the second over to remove Niroshan Dickwella.

Chasing the target, Dambulla lost Dickwella, Dinesh Chandimal and Reeze Hendricks in back-to-back overs from 1.1 to 3.5 over mark. Dambulla’s top-scorer Pavan Rathnayake then joined forces with Marques Ackerman and both put the chase back on track with a solid 65-run stand off 43 balls.

Rathnayake departed after a fluent 50 off 30 balls including six fours and one six on the penultimate ball of the 11th over as Mujeeb Ur Rehman made timely intervention for Kaps.

In the next four-over period Dambulla threatened to take the game away with Ackerman and especially Gulbadin Naib charging against the bowlers as they collected 42 runs. Gulbadin hit three sixes and one four in his 13-ball 28 before spinner Malsha Tharupathi trapped him leg-before.

Ackerman soon followed Gulbadin in the next over for 40 off 33 with the help of three fours and one six. By this time and with 53 needed off 26 balls, the chase had almost fallen short as Ramesh Mendis became the third batter to fall in as many overs.

Mujeeb picked up two wickets apart from Dahani’s, while Wanuja Sahan, Tharupathi and Rathnayaka had one wicket each.

Earlier in the game, Kamindu Mendis walked in to bat at 62-2 in 7.3 overs after Rubin Hermann had departed for a 24-ball 39 and Sadeera Samarawickrama for 16. No.3 Sharujan Shanmuganathan also went back after a run-a-ball 12 after spending six balls with Mendis.

From that point onwards, it was a one-batter show with Mendis striking nine fours and four sixes in his 88 not out off 39 balls. Ben McDermott with 14, Janith Liyanage with 17 and James Neesham with six not out only felt spectators at the other end as Kaps finished with 197/5.

Ramesh Mendis, Gulbadin, Dushmantha Chameera and Fazalhaq Farooqi picked uo one wicket each as Sixers deployed eight bowlers.

Brief Scores

Colombo Kaps won by 21 runs

Colombo Kaps 197/5 (20)

Kamindu Mendis 88* (39)
Rubin Hermann 39 (24)

Ramesh Mendis 1/5

Dambulla Sixers 176/8 (20)

Pavan Rathnayake 50 (30)
Marques Ackerman 40 (33)
Gulbadin Naib 28 (13)

Shahnawaz Dahani 2/20
Mujeeb Ur Rehman 2/33

Player of the match: Kamindu Mendis