Mujeeb’s three-fer Hermann and Liyanage fifties give Colombo Kaps second win

• Fifties from Rubin Hermann and Janith Liyanage led Colombo Kaps to 192 from 67-4
• Kandy Royals lose their third game after having played four in the tournament so far
  Dambulla, 23rd July 2026:

An all-round effort from the Colombo Kaps makes them the fourth team with two wins in the bag so far in this season of Lanka Premier League, after they defeated Kandy Royals by 23 runs at the Rangiri International Stadium, Dambulla.

Skipper Angelo Mathews (39 not out off 24) partnered up with Vijay Shankar (30 off 23) for a threatening 49-run stand after a web spun by Mujeeb ur Rahman (3-34) and Wanuja Sahan left them 95/7 in 12.5 overs. The two were separated Malsha Tharupathi in the 18th over.

Dale Phillips (38 off 27) was the only batter in Kandy’s top-order to show resistance against the spin trio, hitting a couple of boundaries each against both Tharupathi and Mujeeb, before his countryman, James Neesham, dismissed him in the 12th over.

Before his arrival, both local openers, Kusal Perera and the in-form Lahiru Udara, were dismissed by the overseas duo of Mujeeb and Shahnawaz Dahani, respectively, restricting Kandy Royals to 45/2 in the powerplay before they lost five for 50 in next 41 balls.

The total of Colombo Kaps of 192 proved sufficient, with Rubin Hermann scoring a half-century at the top amidst a wicket spree as Vijay Shankar, Shaheen Afridi and Moeen Ali accounted for the top four inside seven overs.

However, Hermann stood tall on one end, bringing up his maiden LPL half-century off 32 balls and hit seven fours and one six in his 53-run outing.

Janith Liyanage, who chipped in with a 33-ball 52, also contributed with Neesham, scoring 35 runs off 15 balls as a partnership; however, the latter hit a boundary and a maximum in Hemantha’s next over, but played one shot too many, getting caught at long-off for a 10-ball 24.

A couple of attacking overs by Shaheen and Nuwan Thushara saw the dismissals of Sahan and Tharupathi, leaving Colombo Kaps eight wickets down, while Liyanage kept scoring on one end and driving the team forward, scoring his second consecutive unbeaten half-century.

Binura Fernando also scored an entertaining cameo of 21 runs before getting run out in the last over as Kaps posted 192-9.

Brief Scores

Colombo Kaps won by 23 runs

Colombo Kaps: 192/9 (20)

Rubin Hermann: 53 (36)
Janith Liyanage: 52* (33)

Dushan Hemantha: 2/20 (2)
Moeen Ali: 2/31 (3)
Shaheen Shah Afridi: 2/34 (4)

Kandy Royals: 169/8 (20)

Angelo Matthews: 39* (24)
Dale Phillips: 38 (27)
Vijay Shankar: 30 (23)

Mujeeb ur Rahman: 3/34 (4)