wd
0
W
1
0
1
6
= 9
Match Details
GG vs JK, 1st T20, LPL 2026 summary
JK
177-10(19.4)
Galle Gallants won by 36 runs 🏆
GG
(20.0)213-6
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Milestone
With that we shall wrap up the live coverage of the first game of this year's Lanka Premiere League. The sixth edition of this wonderful tournament has kicked off on the right note. The Galle Gallants have taken the leap before anyone else. On the other hand, the serial winners of this tournament, Jaffna Kings have started with a loss.
We have a double header Saturday coming up tomorrow. Firstly, the Kandy Royals will take on Dambulla Sixers at 3 PM IST, Local Time. Following that, it is Galle Gallants taking on the Colombo Kaps at 7:30 PM IST, Local Time.
On the note, I, Manan Mehta would like to take your leave on behalf of my colleagues Saptak Sanyal, Rajarshi Das, Abhishek Sharma and Paras Yadav. B-byeeee!
We have a double header Saturday coming up tomorrow. Firstly, the Kandy Royals will take on Dambulla Sixers at 3 PM IST, Local Time. Following that, it is Galle Gallants taking on the Colombo Kaps at 7:30 PM IST, Local Time.
On the note, I, Manan Mehta would like to take your leave on behalf of my colleagues Saptak Sanyal, Rajarshi Das, Abhishek Sharma and Paras Yadav. B-byeeee!
Best Bowling Figures for Eshan Malinga in T20s:
4/15 (Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club) vs Police SC, Colombo (Colts), 2025
4/26 (Galle Gallants) vs SC Jaffna Kings, Colombo (SSC), 2026 Tonight*
4/32 (Sunrisers Hyderabad) vs Delhi Capitals, Hyderabad, 2026
4/15 (Bloomfield Cricket and Athletic Club) vs Police SC, Colombo (Colts), 2025
4/26 (Galle Gallants) vs SC Jaffna Kings, Colombo (SSC), 2026 Tonight*
4/32 (Sunrisers Hyderabad) vs Delhi Capitals, Hyderabad, 2026
Dasun Shanaka (Galle Gallants captain): (How crucial were those last five overs?) It was very crucial, the partnership at the middle phase - Charith and Arachchige - they batted to the conditions. That was the set-up for the finishing touches for myself and Nawaz.
(On what they were looking for) Initially, we were looking at 180, but then of course, after 15-16 overs we realized we can go for that 200 mark. Today it worked for me and Nawaz. On another day it might not.
(How excited is he for the sixth edition of the LPL) Very excited for the sixth edition. All the teams got good players. I'm happy with my team, good varieties, looking forward to the rest of the tournament.
(On what they were looking for) Initially, we were looking at 180, but then of course, after 15-16 overs we realized we can go for that 200 mark. Today it worked for me and Nawaz. On another day it might not.
(How excited is he for the sixth edition of the LPL) Very excited for the sixth edition. All the teams got good players. I'm happy with my team, good varieties, looking forward to the rest of the tournament.
Charith Asalanka (POTM): "[On his knock] I think we got a good start early on. Sam batted really well. After the 4th over we had a tough period of play. Sahan and I luckily could manage the innings from there.
[On the return of the Lanka Premiere League] It is a very excited tournament for us locals. We could not play it last year so yeah, really excited."
[On the return of the Lanka Premiere League] It is a very excited tournament for us locals. We could not play it last year so yeah, really excited."
Player of the Match: Charith Asalanka
Bhanuka Rajapaksa (SC Jaffna Kings captain): "(On whether bowling first was the right decision) Quite unfortunate that we couldn't chase 200; the wicket behaved quite well in the second half. The decision to bowl first was not wrong; maybe the next game we should consider it more.
(On anything they could have done better in the last five overs) We were trying to execute the plans; unfortunately, the bowlers couldn't. The last five overs did cost us the game. Hopefully, in the next few games we won't make the same mistake."
(On anything they could have done better in the last five overs) We were trying to execute the plans; unfortunately, the bowlers couldn't. The last five overs did cost us the game. Hopefully, in the next few games we won't make the same mistake."
Eshan Malinga also gets the 'Game changer of the Match' award.
Eshan Malinga gets the Green Guardian award for bowling the most dot balls (14).
Time for the post-match presentations...
11:40 PM IST, Local Time: Galle Gallants win by 36 runs! This has been a superb all-round performance from the Galle Gallants. They begin their Lanka Premiere League 2026 campaign with a statement win over Jaffna Kings who happen to be the most successful side of the competition. This should give the Gallants some great confidence going ahead into the tournament.
Jaffna Kings won the toss and elected to bowl first. Sam Harper smoked a quickfire 40 off 19 early on before Charith Asalanka (65) and Sahan Arachchige (35) continued with the momentum further on. However, with economical spells from Dunith Wellalage and Piyush Chawla in the middle overs, the scoring rate was curbed for a while. It looked like the Galle Gallants would end with a middling score of 170-175 at one stage. That was not the case as cameos by Dasun Shanaka (31* off 9) and Mohammad Nawaz (21 off 9) powered the Gallants to an above par 213/6 in 20 overs. The pick of the bowlers for the Kings were Lizaad Williams (2/28) and Piyush Chawla (2/43).
The chase was always going to be a steep one and it required multiple partnerships to get there. The openers, Avishka Fernando and Kamil Mishara started off with great guns. They added a quickfire 63 in just 5.1 overs before the impact player, Eshan Malinga broke the stand. He dismissed Avishka for 34 and knocked over number 3 Ibrahim Zadran in the same over for just 2. A certain collapse took place at that stage. Akif Javed took out Kamil Mishara in the very next over for 28 before Charith Asalanka cleaned up Bhanuka Rajapaksa for 2 in the following over. From 63/0, the Kings slipped to 72/4 and soon 82/5 as Eshan Malinga dismissed Nuwanidu Fernando for just 4 in the 10th over.
Dunith Wellalage was the only promising batter in the middle order with 40 off 24 next to his name. He too couldn't carry on for long as Vijayakanth Viyaskanth accounted for him. The game was slipping away from the hands of the Jaffna Kings rapidly. Chamindu Wickramasinghe did instill some hope with a quick 24 off 10 before he was run out courtesy of some poor running. The rest of the batting order just faded away as the Kings eventually were bowled out for 177. The pick of the bowlers were Eshan Malinga (4-26) and Akif Javed (2-31). Dasun Shanaka, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Charith Asalanka had a wicket each to their name.
Jaffna Kings won the toss and elected to bowl first. Sam Harper smoked a quickfire 40 off 19 early on before Charith Asalanka (65) and Sahan Arachchige (35) continued with the momentum further on. However, with economical spells from Dunith Wellalage and Piyush Chawla in the middle overs, the scoring rate was curbed for a while. It looked like the Galle Gallants would end with a middling score of 170-175 at one stage. That was not the case as cameos by Dasun Shanaka (31* off 9) and Mohammad Nawaz (21 off 9) powered the Gallants to an above par 213/6 in 20 overs. The pick of the bowlers for the Kings were Lizaad Williams (2/28) and Piyush Chawla (2/43).
The chase was always going to be a steep one and it required multiple partnerships to get there. The openers, Avishka Fernando and Kamil Mishara started off with great guns. They added a quickfire 63 in just 5.1 overs before the impact player, Eshan Malinga broke the stand. He dismissed Avishka for 34 and knocked over number 3 Ibrahim Zadran in the same over for just 2. A certain collapse took place at that stage. Akif Javed took out Kamil Mishara in the very next over for 28 before Charith Asalanka cleaned up Bhanuka Rajapaksa for 2 in the following over. From 63/0, the Kings slipped to 72/4 and soon 82/5 as Eshan Malinga dismissed Nuwanidu Fernando for just 4 in the 10th over.
Dunith Wellalage was the only promising batter in the middle order with 40 off 24 next to his name. He too couldn't carry on for long as Vijayakanth Viyaskanth accounted for him. The game was slipping away from the hands of the Jaffna Kings rapidly. Chamindu Wickramasinghe did instill some hope with a quick 24 off 10 before he was run out courtesy of some poor running. The rest of the batting order just faded away as the Kings eventually were bowled out for 177. The pick of the bowlers were Eshan Malinga (4-26) and Akif Javed (2-31). Dasun Shanaka, Vijayakanth Viyaskanth and Charith Asalanka had a wicket each to their name.
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