Charith Asalanka and Eshan Malinga lead Galle to maiden LPL title
Charith Asalanka and Eshan Malinga shared six wickets between them as Galle Gallants clinched a low-scoring final to secure their first Lanka Premier League (LPL) title, in Colombo. After the pair dismissed Jaffna Kings for 123, Gallants wrapped up the chase with five wickets and 25 balls to spare at the Premadasa Stadium. Malinga’s three-wicket […]
Charith Asalanka and Eshan Malinga spearheaded Galle Gallants to victory in the Lanka Premier League (LPL) final, securing their maiden title. The pair accounted for six wickets between them as Galle chased down Jaffna Kings' total of 123 in just 15.5 overs, leaving five wickets and 25 balls to spare at Premadasa Stadium. Malinga was the star bowler, claiming 3-20 and taking 17 wickets overall at an economy rate of 9.32.
His partnership with Asalanka saw them dismantle Kings' middle order effectively. Kings' opener Kamil Mishara was the only batsman to surpass the 25-run mark, scoring 41 off 32 balls before being dismissed by Malinga. Chamindu Wickremasinghe was the second-highest scorer for Kings with 25 off 16 balls, while Tharindu Ratnayake contributed 2-14 with the ball.
In response, Gallants lost early wickets with Sam Harper departing in the first over, but Tom Rogers steadied the ship with a composed 34 off 27 balls. Shakib Al Hasan was instrumental in dismantling the Gallants' lineup, taking a double-strike to remove Rogers and Dinura Kalupahana, and aiding Chamika Karunaratne's exit. The gallant effort of Dasun Shanaka and Sahan Arachchige ensured Galle's triumph. The final scores were Galle Gallants 126 for 5 in 15.5 overs and Jaffna Kings 123 in 19.3 overs.
Written by urgent.news from The Island Sri Lanka's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
