Tuesday Jul 28, 2026
Tuesday Jul 28, 2026
Monday, 27 July 2026 03:55 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}
By Sa’adi Thawfeeq
Galle Gallants led by former Sri Lanka white ball captain Dasun Shanaka galloped their way towards a place in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) Playoffs when they beat Dambulla Sixers by 44 runs in the second match played for the day yesterday at the Rangiri Dambulla Cricket Stadium, to record their fourth win in six matches.
Dambulla Sixers join Kandy Royals at the bottom of the table with two wins and four losses and a lot to play for in their remaining matches if they are to make it to the knockouts.
All-rounder Chamika Karunaratne perhaps in the form of his life played an incredible innings crashing 72* off 34 balls (4 fours, 6 sixes) to take table toppers Galle Gallants to the highest total of the tournament – 220-6, a target which Dambulla Sixers found difficult to take down as they finished on 176-7.
The Galle Gallants innings was not all about Player of the Match Karunaratne, because it was set up nicely for him by the top order – Sam Harper (41 off 27 balls, 5 fours, 1 six), Nurul Hasan (29 off 13), Charith Asalanka (31 off 20) and Sahan Arachchige (28 off 18). They did not allow any breakthroughs to dent them, but just kept hitting the boundaries. Dushmantha Chameera ended up with a five-for but proved pretty expensive conceding 55 runs in his four overs.
Niroshan Dickwella got Dambulla Sixers off to a good start belting fours all around the wicket. But it was too good to last. Once the wickets started to fall they collapsed quickly and hardly mounted a serious challenge outside the powerplay.
Marques Ackerman (23 off 14) and Ramesh Mendis (39* off 22) played some audacious strokes towards the end but the game was already done and dusted by then.
Galle Gallants go into the Kandy leg (Pallekele) with their nose in front, where the next round of matches will take place from Tuesday.
Scores:
Galle Gallants 220-6 (20) (Sam Harper 41, Nurul Hasan 29, Charith Asalanka 31, Sahan Arachchige 28, Chamika Karunaratne 72*, Dushmantha Chameera 5/55) vs. Dambulla Sixers 176-7 (20) (Niroshan Dickwella 32, Marques Ackerman 23, Ramesh Mendis 39*, Sachindu Colombage 3/17)
