Pallekele, Sri Lanka — July 29, 2026
Colombo Kaps returned to winning ways with a hard-fought four-wicket victory over Dambulla Sixers in Match 17 of the Lanka Premier League 2026 at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium, with Rubin Hermann’s composed half-century steering the chase home with six balls to spare.
Match Summary
Dambulla Sixers 174/5 (20 overs) lost to Colombo Kaps 177/6 (19 overs) by 4 wickets.
Player of the Match: Rubin Hermann (48 off 26 balls)
Hendricks Leads Sixers to 174
Having won the toss and chosen to bat first, Dambulla Sixers captain Dinesh Chandimal later admitted conditions were tricky for batting, but his side still posted a competitive 174 for 5. The innings was built around another fine knock from Reeza Hendricks, who continued his excellent tournament form with 80 off 54 balls, striking nine fours and three sixes for his third half-century of LPL 2026.
Hendricks found a key ally in Sikandar Raza, and the pair put on 83 for the fourth wicket — a new record for Dambulla Sixers in T20 cricket, eclipsing the previous best of 79 between Angelo Perera and Dasun Shanaka. Gulbadin Naib also chipped in with 33 as Dambulla pushed their total past 170 by the close of the innings.
Kaps Chase It Down With Overs to Spare
Chasing 175, Colombo Kaps found early momentum through a strong second-wicket stand between Rubin Hermann and Ben McDermott, who put on 100 runs together to lay the foundation for the chase. Hermann was particularly fluent, racing to 48 off just 26 balls before falling, while McDermott made a valuable 26.
Kamindu Mendis added a further 30 in a 50-run third-wicket stand with McDermott, keeping the required rate under control through the middle overs. Despite a late wobble that saw Colombo lose a cluster of wickets, including Kusal Bandara given out on review, the platform built earlier proved decisive, and Colombo Kaps eventually got over the line with 177 for 6, sealing the win with six balls unused.
What It Means
The win is Colombo Kaps’ fourth of the LPL 2026 season and a much-needed response after their defeat to Jaffna Kings in the previous match, lifting them back into contention in a tightly packed points table. For Dambulla Sixers, the loss is their fourth of the tournament against just two wins, leaving their playoff prospects looking increasingly difficult with the group stage entering its final week.
Up Next
The LPL 2026 group stage continues with Kandy Royals facing Jaffna Kings, before Galle Gallants take on Colombo Kaps in Kandy on August 1, as teams battle for position ahead of the playoffs and final scheduled for August 8.
Reporting by [Author Name] | LankaNewsLinksDAMBULLA, 26 July 2026
Galle Gallants produced a dominant all-round performance to defeat Dambulla Sixers by 44 runs in Match 14 of the Lanka Premier League 2026 at the Dambulla International Cricket Stadium, registering their fourth win of the tournament and moving to the top of the points table heading into the Kandy leg of the competition.
Match Summary
Galle Gallants 220/6 (20 overs) beat Dambulla Sixers 176/7 (20 overs) by 44 runs.
Karunaratne Blitz Headlines Gallants’ 220
Having won the toss and elected to bat first, Galle Gallants piled up a formidable 220 for 6, powered by an explosive knock from Chamika Karunaratne, who smashed an unbeaten 72 off just 34 deliveries at a strike rate above 210, striking four boundaries and six towering sixes.
Karunaratne was well set up by the batters above him. Sam Harper (41), Charith Asalanka (31), Nurul Hasan (29) and Sahan Arachchige (28) all played their part in building a platform before Karunaratne cut loose in the closing overs to push the total well past 200. For Dambulla, pace spearhead Dushmantha Chameera stood out despite an expensive spell, finishing with a five-wicket haul of 5 for 55 from his four overs.
Sixers Fall Short Despite Fighting Effort
Facing a stiff target of 221, Dambulla Sixers struggled from the outset to keep pace with the required rate. Ramesh Mendis top-scored with 39, while Niroshan Dickwella made a promising start with 32, but neither knock was enough to seriously trouble the Gallants’ total. Making his first appearance of the tournament, wrist-spinner Sachindu Colombage made an immediate impact, claiming 3 for 17 to derail the Sixers’ chase. Dambulla eventually finished on 176 for 7, falling 44 runs short.
What It Means
The result is Galle Gallants’ fourth win of LPL 2026 and lifts them to the top of the points table with the tournament shifting to Kandy for its next phase. Dambulla Sixers, by contrast, remain stuck near the foot of the table with two wins from five matches, and will need to arrest their slide quickly to keep playoff hopes alive.
Up Next
The LPL 2026 group stage moves to Pallekele, with Colombo Kaps taking on Jaffna Kings on July 28, followed by Kandy Royals against Galle Gallants and Colombo Kaps against Dambulla Sixers over the following two days, as teams jostle for position before the tournament heads to its Kandy and Colombo legs ahead of the playoffs and final on August 8.
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