The final of the Lanka Premier League (LPL) 2026 was played between the Galle Gallants and the Jaffna Kings on Saturday (August 8). Played at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo, the Galle Gallants defeated the Jaffna Kings, owned by former Indian fast bowler Zaheer Khan, by five wickets to win the title for the first time.
Winning the toss and opting to bat first, the Jaffna Kings were bowled out for just 123 runs by Charith Asalanka and Ishan Malinga. The Galle Gallants easily achieved this target, losing five wickets in 15.5 overs. Thomas Rogers scored 34 for the Galle Gallants, while Dinura Kalupahana scored 31. Captain Dasun Shanaka scored an unbeaten 20 off just nine balls.
Asalanka and Malinga’s lethal bowling
The Jaffna Kings, seeking their fourth LPL title, had a disastrous start. They lost the wickets of Avishka Fernando (20) and Khawaja Nafe (0) within the powerplay. Their situation worsened after the end of the powerplay. By the time they reached 68, half their team was out. Kamil Mishara (41) tried to hold on at one end, but he too fell to Malinga off the last ball of the 13th over. Bangladeshi legend Shakib Al Hasan then departed, leaving Jaffna Kings at 106/7.
Chamindu Wickremesinghe, coming in at number eight, scored 24 runs off 16 balls to help Jaffna Kings reach a respectable total, but it proved insufficient. Asalanka took 3 wickets for 20 runs in 4 overs. Malinga took 3 wickets for 25 runs. Thirindu Ratnayake took 2 wickets. Akif Javed and Sachindu Colombage took 1 wicket each.
Galle Gallants Win Easily
Chasing a small target, Galle Gallants lost Sam Harper (1) in the very first over. He was dismissed by Mohammed Shiraz. Travin Mathew dismissed Aslanka in the next over, reducing Galle Gallants to 10/2. Jaffna Kings had come back into the game and looked like they could defend 123, but Rogers and Kalupahana dashed their hopes with a 64-run partnership for the third wicket. In the end, captain Shanaka smashed 20 runs at a strike rate of 222.22, hitting two fours and one six, to take Galle Gallants to the target with 25 balls to spare. Mathew and Shakib took two wickets each for Jaffna Kings.